Helicopter Crash Kills Three Near Parish Line Toward Grand Lake

Three are dead after their helicopter went down in a remote area Tom Hebert Rd. and Helms Rd. north of Grand Lake, according to KPLC.  Currently, no official word on why the helicopter went down, though some media sources are reporting that a fire may have broken out on the craft.

The crash area is about four miles southeast of the Lake Charles Regional Airport near the Calcasieu-Cameron parish line.  The helicopter, which was operated by Era Helicopters, went down at around 11:30 a.m. this morning.

First responders are having to use ATVs and other helicopters to get out to the remote crash site.  Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration are also on the scene, along with Calcasieu Parish sheriff's deputies.

No names have yet been released.

According to its web site, Era Helicopters operates over 170 helicopters in support of offshore oil and gas transport, air medical services, search and rescue operations (SAR), firefighting, flightseeing, and disaster relief efforts.  The company has a training center located at its Lake Charles headquarters. -- kplctv.com