Seven Columbia Helicopters employees were killed when a commercial model of the Boeing CH-47 Chinook crashed in Peru.
The Model 234 tandem-rotor crashed shortly after take-off in the afternoon on 7 January from Pucallpa, Peru, according to the US National Transportation Safety Board, which has dispatched an accident response team to help local investigators.
Oregon-based Columbia confirmed the crash killed all seven on board, including the command pilot, co-pilot, maintenance crew chief, two mechanics and two load managers.
"This is a very sad day for Columbia Helicopters," said president Michael Fahey.
Local reports indicated that the aircraft was carrying a sling-load at the time of the accident.
Source: Flight International
