Authorities are not releasing the identities of the two police pilots killed in a Baton Rouge Police helicopter crash until their next-of-kin are notified, officials announced at a press conference Sunday afternoon.
“Today is a very emotional day for the men and women of the Baton Rouge Police Department and all of the law enforcement community,” Police Chief Murphy Paul said.
“I ask the community to lift our officers up in prayer and lift the family members of these two heroes up in prayer,” Paul said.
The helicopter went down around 3 a.m. Sunday in a field off North Winterfield Road, near U.S. 190 at Erwinville in West Baton Rouge Parish, officials said.
Information from the FlightAware web site indicates the helicopter had taken off from Baton Rouge Metro Airport at 2:26 a.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration said they and the National Transportation Safety Board will be the lead investigators of the crash of the Robinson R-44 helicopter.
State Police and the West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office will be securing the scene, Paul said.
Also responding to the crash were the West Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office and Acadian Ambulance.
In a news release Sunday afternoon, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome extended her “deepest condolences to the families and colleagues of the BRPD officers who tragically lost their lives today in a helicopter crash.
“These officers served our community with distinction and bravery, and we will forever be grateful for their service and sacrifice.
“We are working closely with the Baton Rouge Police Department to offer support for their investigation into the cause of this tragedy and to provide support to the families and colleagues of the fallen officers.
“We ask the community keep the families of the fallen officers in their thoughts and prayers, and we express our heartfelt gratitude to all of the first responder agencies who have been working tirelessly to support our city during this difficult time.”
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