U.S. Customs Pilot Who Died in Potrero-Area Helicopter Crash ID'd

SAN DIEGO, CA — Authorities have publicly identified a U.S. Customs and Border Protection pilot who died this week in an on-duty helicopter crash in the far southeastern reaches of San Diego County.

CBP Air Interdiction Agent Jeffrey Kanas was flying a Eurocopter AS350 that went down for unknown reasons about 10:15 a.m. Monday in Potrero, north of state Route 94 and roughly two miles south of Barrett Lake, according to federal and state officials.

Kanas, the sole occupant of the single-engine light-utility aircraft, was on a border-security mission at the time of the crash and died at the scene, CBP spokesperson Gerrelaine Alcordo said.

He was a 16-year member of the agency, according to CBP public affairs.

The National Transportation Safety Board is heading investigations into the cause of the accident.

— City News Service