Local
Marine helicopter crash-lands in Lake Havasu State Park parking lot; pilots hospitalized
Two Marine pilots were treated for non-life-threatening injuries after an AH-1Z Viper came down Sunday night near a Lake Havasu boat ramp. The aircraft was leaking fuel, prompting firefighters to cover it with fire-suppressing foam as crews worked to remove it.
Two Marine Corps pilots were taken to a Lake Havasu hospital after their AH-1Z Viper helicopter crash-landed Sunday night in a parking lot at Lake Havasu State Park, officials said. Both pilots were in stable condition and had non-life-threatening injuries.
Emergency crews were called at about 10:15 p.m. to the area of London Bridge Road and the Windsor launch ramp, one of the park’s four boat ramps. The pilots exited the helicopter on their own before being transported to Havasu Regional Medical Center, the Marine Corps said.
The aircraft was leaking fuel, so Lake Havasu City firefighters applied fire-suppressing foam. No firefighters were injured. Arizona State Parks and Trails Deputy Assistant Director Michelle Thompson said Monday that a Marine accident response team was working to remove the helicopter.
The AH-1Z Viper is assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303, part of Marine Aircraft Group 39 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton in Southern California.
The Marine Corps is investigating the crash and said it would release additional information when available.