3 people, including baby, killed in Louisiana helicopter crash identified

Three people died in a helicopter crash in Louisiana.

On Friday, November 1, around 21:00 local time, a Robinson R44 helicopter with three people, including an infant, crashed in the city of Iowa. statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.

In a news release obtained by PEOPLE, the Calcasieu County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as 50-year-old Jared Sawant, his wife, Tanya, and their 2-year-old daughter, all of Kinder.

“This was a very tragic accident and our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of the victims,” ​​Sheriff Stitch Guillory said in a release.

“Our deputies arrived at the scene and started a preliminary investigation,” he added. “The Federal Aviation Administration was called in to investigate the crash and our deputies remained on the scene and assisted until the FAA arrived, began an investigation and removed the debris from the aircraft. region. I would like to express our gratitude to the members of the community who live in the area of ​​the accident, they did not hesitate to provide assistance at the scene until first responders arrived and continued to provide assistance until the scene was cleared.”

The FAA said they are now investigating the incident with the National Transportation Safety Board, which is “responsible for the investigation” and responsible for “further updates.”

The crash happened in the 5000 block of Hecker Road near Iowa City. The Calcasieu County Sheriff’s Office, local firefighters and Louisiana State Police responded to the scene, according to CBS affiliate KFDM-TV and USA today.

A National Transportation Safety Board official said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that “the Robinson R-44 collided with the road under unknown circumstances” and “a fire broke out following the crash.”

They also said an NTSB investigator is currently “completing an on-site investigation.”

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Details about where the helicopter took off from and where it was headed are unknown USA today.

Guillory also told KFDM-TV that the plane looked like a personal helicopter.

There were no other victims in the accident.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has surveillance video or other relevant information is asked to contact the NTSB at [email protected].