Two Confirmed Deaths in Lino Lakes Helicopter Crash: Police

Authorities have confirmed two deaths in a helicopter crash in Lino Lakes Friday morning.

On Friday morning, Lino Lakes police were dispatched to an aircraft crash in an open field near the intersection of County Road 14 (Main Street) and Sunset Ave.

First responders found an obvious impact site in an open sod field and a trail of debris that went in a
southwest direction of travel from the impact site that was several hundred yards long.

The impact area contained the remains of the fuselage of the aircraft and there was a large fireball of impacted debris present, according to a news release.

There was no possibility that any occupants of the aircraft could have survived the crash, officials say.

Witness statements described a helicopter that was traveling in a northeast direction suddenly experiencing
distress, according to police.

Some describe hearing a loud “pop” or “explosion” and seeing the helicopters rotors stop spinning and the helicopter falling from the sky and breaking apart.

The amount of debris and the area in which it was scattered suggest the aircraft was breaking apart as it fell from the sky, according to authorities.

After preliminary investigation by the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, it was determined that the helicopter was a 1982 Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 and that it had been in flight earlier in the day with no mechanical issues known.

It’s believed that the second, fatal flight originated from the Anoka County Airport in Blaine. There are two confirmed victims whose bodies have been recovered from the crash site:

Pilot: 48 year old male from Minneapolis, MN
Passenger: 47 year old female from Blaine, MN

The names of the victims are being withheld pending notification of family and verifying the identity of
the remains.

Officials from the FAA and NTSB will conduct an investigation in the cause of the crash.

If any members of the public in the area of the crash find any debris or unusual objects they are asked to call
law enforcement at (763) 427-1212.

The case remains under the investigation of the Lino Lakes Police Department, the Anoka County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.

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