Nine people are dead in the crash of a helicopter carrying firefighters, FAA officials said Wednesday.
Four other people on board the Sikorsky S-61 military-style helicopter suffered burns in the crash, which was near the north end of the Buckhorn Fire, about 15 miles northwest of Junction City in Trinity County. The helicopter was taking off when it crashed, officials said.
The helicopter had picked up a group of firefighters about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, said Ian Gregor, an FAA spokesman.
The helicopter was completely burned, he said.
The cause of the crash is still uncertain, said Bob Madden, spokesman for Carson Helicopter Services of Grants Pass, Oregon, owner of the aircraft.
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