Helicopter Crashes In New Mexico After Battling Wildfires; 4 Dead

LAS VEGAS, NM — A Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office helicopter that was heading back to Albuquerque after helping battle a wildfire in another New Mexico city crashed near Las Vegas, New Mexico, killing four people.

Three people from the sheriff's office and a county firefighter died when the aircraft went down about 123 miles northeast of Albuquerque, sheriff's officials said Sunday.

The sheriff's department identified the victims as Undersheriff Larry Koren, Lt. Fred Beers, Deputy Michael Levison and county Fire and Rescue Department Specialist Matthew King, according to The Associated Press. Their ages weren't immediately available.

A Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman had said the Bell UH-1H helicopter crashed around 10 p.m. Saturday, but sheriff's officials said it was around 7:20 p.m.

The cause of the crash remains a mystery. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

New Mexico State Police confirmed the crash and the fatalities around 12:15 a.m. Sunday.

The helicopter and its crew were helping with a wildfire in the Las Vegas area Saturday, providing bucket drops and other air logistics needs to fire crews on the ground.

Sheriff's officials are working with the Office of the Medical Investigator to recover the bodies of the four men and return them to Albuquerque.

Aerial video from KOAT-TV showed the wreckage of the helicopter in at least two pieces among some desert shrubs, the Albuquerque Journal reported.

In the past several days, the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office used its Metro 2 helicopter to fight a small fire in the East Mountains near Albuquerque and another fire near Santa Fe, according to Albuquerque TV station KQRE.

"I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of four New Mexicans while in the line of duty," Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement. "As we await additional details on the investigation, my office will offer any available support and assistance to the sheriff's office and the county. State resources will be fully available to assist the investigation."

The Associated Press contributed reporting.