Salt Lake City (KSL) — A helicopter that several witnesses said appeared to break apart while in air, crashed into a building near 500 West and 900 North in North Salt Lake Tuesday.
There are unconfirmed reports of at least two victims from the helicopter crash. Their conditions were not immediately known.
Ben Tidswell, the pilot for KSL Chopper 5, was at Sky Park Airport when he heard a strange noise — “the sound of things coming to pieces big time” or “an in-flight breakup.”
Moments later, Tidswell said his mechanic pounded on his door and told him he had just witnessed the helicopter fall apart in mid air and crash.
“The entire tail rotor and assembly is sitting about 200 yards away from where the rest of the aircraft crashed down into the building. The aircraft itself is smoldering, seemingly on fire in the building, completely inside the building,” he said.
Jordan Anderson was walking nearby when he also heard the chopper.
“I heard a loud, best way to describe it is a backfire, like an engine backfire,” he said. “Right after I heard that loud bang. I just saw it tank right to the ground.”
Bob Costagno was on the phone at a nearby business when he looked up and saw the helicopter.
“It made a sound like it was breaking apart, like backfiring, then the tail shaft broke right off,” he said. “It just went straight down. It looked like the guy was trying to get out, but I didn’t think he had a chance.”
Debris from the crash was spread out over a 400 to 500-yard area, Tidswell said.
Costagno watched as rescue crews took one person out of the building.
“They brought someone out the front door and laid him on the ground and were doing CPR, and then covered him up,” he said.
It was not known how many people, if any, were inside the building with a sign at the top that says “Wimpole Street Creations.” There is a “For Lease” sign in front of the building.
Costagno, who works nearby, said he believes the company recently moved out of that building and that it was vacant.
There were unconfirmed reports that a mechanic had been working on the helicopter for the past several weeks.
Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.
