Houston PD helicopter crashes into apartment complex; 1 officer killed, 1 critical

HOUSTON — One officer was killed and another was critically injured early Saturday when a Houston Police Department helicopter crashed into an apartment complex, KPRC reported.

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The helicopter pilot is still in surgery, but was “very banged up," Houston Police Department Chief Art Acevedo told reporters.

Update 2:41 p.m. EDT May 2: Houston Police Department Chief Art Acevedo identified the critically injured officer as Chase Cormier, KPRC reported. Cormier was airlifted to an area hospital and went into surgery Saturday morning., the television station reported.

“We are hopeful that he will survive," Acevedo told reporters.

Cormier has been the Houston Police Department since July 2006, KRPC reported.

Update 12:11 p.m. EDT May 2: Houston Police Department Chief Art Acevedo identified the officer who was killed in Saturday’s helicopter crash as Jason Knox. The tactical officer died at an area hospital, KPRC reported. He was the son of Houston councilmember at-large Mike Knox.

Acevedo said Jason Knox was a "good man,” the television station reported.

Knox is survived by his wife and two children, KHOU reported.

The pilot of the helicopter was undergoing surgery after suffering “significant injuries,” Acevedo said. His name hasn’t been released, according to KHOU.

“We’re hoping that he will survive,” Acevedo said. “But having said that, as you know when you have trauma, it can turn very quickly. We’re asking for the community’s prayers for everyone involved.”

Update 9:58 a.m. EDT May 2: Houston Police Department Chief Art Acevedo said the one officer, a tactical flight officer, died at an area hospital, KRPC reported.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the death of the officer just after 6 a.m.

The helicopter crashed into a clubhouse building at the apartment complex and no apartment units were impacted, KTRK reported.

“This is one of those mornings," Turner said at a news conference.

Original report: Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, speaking with media less than two hours after the crash, confirmed a department pilot and tactical flight officer were injured in the 2 a.m. crash.

“The pilot and co-pilot were trapped in the wreckage for an extended period of time. (Personnel) literally had to cut them out,” the chief said.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Agency are investigating the crash alongside the Houston Police Department.

According to officials, the 75 Fox helicopter from the department’s Air Operations Unit was being used by the two officers to investigate reports of a body floating in a bayou along the northern part of the city when the crash occurred, KPRC reported.

“They responded right before 2 a.m. and within minutes we got reports from the Houston Forensic Science Center crime scene unit that was working a murder scene at the 17000 block of Imperial Valley that our helicopter had gone down,” Acevedo said.

The cause of the crash remains unclear, but Acevedo applauded the pilot and called it a “miracle” he was able to crash the helicopter into an uninhabited building within the complex. No other injuries associated with the crash have been reported.

Acevedo confirmed both victims were flown to a nearby hospital for treatment, but the extent of their injuries has not been confirmed.

“Trauma surgeons are now working on them,” Acevedo said, declining to identify the injured officers until all family members are alerted to the situation.

Joe Gamaldi, national vice president for the Fraternal Order of Police, confirmed the report in a tweet.

Please check back for updates to this developing story.

Cox Media Group