Helicopter Crashes During NASA Shuttle Recovery Effort: 2 Killed, 3 Injured

A helicopter carrying five people crashed thursday afternoon near Hemphill, Texas while conducting Columbia debris recovery operations. The helicopter belonged to the U.S. Forest Service.

Texas Forest Service employee Charles Krenek was killed in the crash as was the helicopter’s pilot, J. “Buzz” Mier from Arizona.

Three individuals were injured in the crash: Matt Tschacher from the U.S. Forest Service; Richard Lange who works for United Space Alliance at NASA KSC; and Ronnie Dale who also works at NASA KSC. These three are being treated for their injuries at Memorial Medical Center of East Texas in Lufkin, Texas.

All debris search activities have been halted pending an initial assessment into the possible cause of the crash and whether it is safe for debris search operations to resume.