(MENAFN) Tragedy struck the Baton Rouge Police Department early Sunday morning when two officers died in a helicopter accident. The Robinson R-44 helicopter, belonging to the Baton Rouge Police Department, was dispatched around 2:00 a.m. to assist in a pursuit. However, it crashed, leading to the deaths of the two police pilots on board.
The wreckage of the helicopter was discovered in a sugarcane field near Port Allen several hours after it disappeared, according to CBS affiliate WAFB. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash, according to WAFB.
The Baton Rouge Police Department released a statement expressing deep sadness over the tragedy and extended their sympathy to the families and friends of the officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. The department also requested that the public respect the investigative process as the investigation will take time. Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul has not released the names of the pilots who died in the crash.
Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome also expressed her condolences to the families and colleagues of the fallen officers in a series of tweets. She added that the city is working closely with the Baton Rouge Police Department to support their investigation into the cause of the accident and provide support to the families and colleagues of the deceased officers.
Video footage shared by WAFB showed a group of law enforcement officers saluting a vehicle as it escorted the bodies of the two police pilots killed in the crash. The loss of these officers is a reminder of the dangers that law enforcement officers face every day while serving their communities.
The tragedy has left the Baton Rouge community in mourning and has drawn attention to the importance of ensuring the safety of law enforcement officers in the line of duty. The investigation into the cause of the helicopter accident will provide important information to prevent similar incidents in the future, ensuring that officers can perform their duties safely and effectively.
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