FREDERICKSBURG, Texas -- Three people have been killed in a helicopter crash in Kendall County.
The Kendall County Sheriff's Office said deputies and other emergency personnel were sent to an area near Ranch Road 1888 and FM 1376 in far northeast Kendall County around 10:15 p.m. Thursday for a possible helicopter crash.
Officials said the owner of the helicopter was in Seguin when he was notified about an emergency beacon activation concerning the helicopter. The Robinson R44 chopper was traveling from Midland to Seguin and had stopped in Fredericksburg to refuel. The chopper is believed to have left Fredericksburg around 7:30 p.m., and the emergency beacon was activated about 30 minutes later.
After he was notified about the emergency beacon, the owner flew another helicopter to Fredericksburg to begin a search. He told authorities he had been unable to contact the pilot or any of the passengers.
Officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office, as well as local volunteer fire department and emergency medical personnel continued searching through the night but were unable to find any signs of the helicopter. A DPS helicopter was also used to search the area during the overnight hours until cloud cover forced the crew to land.
The Kendall County Sheriff's Office said the crash site was located by another aircraft Friday morning in a heavily wooded area. The three people onboard died in the crash. Their identifies have not been released.
