Lakeville Police reported that officers were called at 2:45 p.m. to the area west of the airport. The wreckage was located near Highview Avenue and 219th Street West.
Initial information indicates a 2023 Robinson R66 helicopter went down in a field and caught fire. Responding officers and firefighters determined that no one on board survived.
Authorities have not confirmed how many people were on the aircraft. The crash site was described as non-residential and non-commercial. Police said no one on the ground was impacted.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been notified. Both agencies will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash.
Officials said details about the number of occupants and the cause will be released after preliminary findings. The identities of those who died will be provided by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office in the coming days.
This tragedy highlights ongoing concerns about small aircraft safety. For more information on aviation safety and crash investigations, visit the National Transportation Safety Board website.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
