BRIEFS. aviation

Crew escapes air taxi helicopter crash landing

Gabriel Rodríguez/LA PRENSA

accident: The Autoridad de Aeronaútica Civil is investigating the crash landing of a commercial helicopter at the Albrook airport.1035276

Another accident involving a helicopter occurred yesterday afternoon, when a Helipad Corp. air taxi helicopter crash landed on track 36 of the Aeropuerto Marcos A Gelabert in Albrook, said Autoridad de Aeronaútica Civil (AAC) spokesperson Víctor de la Hoz.

De la Hoz said that the commercially-registered Eulette III air taxi, which was en route from the Buena Ventura area of Rio Hato, in Antón, was scheduled to land at 12:51 p.m. when the accident happened.

The aircraft's pilot, Tomas Exemberger, has logged more than 600 flight hours, according to another AAC source.

De La Hoz reported that the helicopter's captain and four-person crew were unharmed and did not require medical attention.

Ana Maria Montolla, who witnessed the crash, said the helicopter turned and fell in a fraction of a second. Then all the occupants got out and walked to the Cuartel de Bomberos de Corozal, which came to the rescue but was refused entry to the airport. The AAC is investigating the incident.