Two injured in helicopter crash at Olympia airport
Two people were on board a helicopter that crashed after taking off at Olympia Regional Airport in Tumwater on Friday, according to local officials.
Police and fire crews responded to the crash shortly after 9:40 a.m.
The helicopter from NW Helicopters had just taken off on a test flight when it experienced a mechanical issue, according to Ann Cook, the city of Tumwater's communications manager.
The helicopter was 50 to 75 feet off the ground when it lost altitude and crashed in a grass field at the southern end of the airport.
The two people on board were a pilot and a mechanic. Both men were taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to Cook.
The Port of Olympia, which runs the airport, tweeted that airport operations were not interrupted.
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash, according to a port spokeswoman.
Abby Spegman: 360-704-6869, @AbbySpegman
This story was originally published May 25, 2018 at 10:15 AM with the headline "Two injured in helicopter crash at Olympia airport."