A Robinson R44 helicopter crashed at Skagit Regional Airport around 10 a.m. Monday.
The airport manager, who witnessed the incident, was the first to reach the site and initiated a call to 911. Emergency crews from Bay View Fire District 6 and the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office responded. Port of Skagit Communications Director Linda Tyler said the male pilot and female passenger were treated at the scene before being taken to Skagit Regional Hospital in Mount Vernon. Their conditions have not been released.
Photo courtesy of William Christopher Mask
The Robinson R44 is a single-engine helicopter with a semi-rigid two-bladed main rotor, a two-bladed tail rotor and skid landing gear. Authorities did not specify the flight’s origin or destination.
Following the crash, the helicopter was moved into a hangar at the airport to clear the airfield. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were notified, as required under federal protocol. Both agencies launched an investigation Tuesday into what led to the accident.
