Helicopter crashes in the Grand Canyon, three killed

ARIZONA, U.S. - An aerial sightseeing helicopter crashed in the Grand Canyon, leaving three people dead and four people injured.

According to Police Chief Francis E. Bradley Sr. of the Hualapai reservation, the deadly helicopter crash took place near Quartermaster Canyon, within the Grand Canyon on the Hualapai Nation.

The EC-130 helicopter, operated by an aerial sightseeing company called Papillon Airways gives tours of the Grand Canyon and other locations.

According to the police chief, a pilot and six passengers were on board at the time of the crash.

Bradley added that the first responders had difficulty reaching the four survivors due to windy, dark, and rugged conditions.

Later, rescuers got help from military aircraft from Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.

Subsequently, all four of the injured to the University Medical Center in Las Vegas were flown to the hospital. 

Crews also worked on Sunday to retrieve the bodies of those who died in the crash, but weather conditions continued to hamper efforts.

Flames and dark smoke was seen rising from the rocky terrain in photos of the crash that emerged on Sunday. 

In an initial statement, FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the aircraft sustained considerable damage in the crash.

Kenitzer added that the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident.