Deadly Police Helicopter Crash In Atlanta
Two officers have been killed after an Atlanta police helicopter flying low during a search for a missing boy crashed near a busy crossroads.
Police spokesman Carlos Campos confirmed both officers had died, but said no one was hurt on the ground after the aircraft landed close to Interstate 20 in a neighbourhood populated by fast food restaurants and other outlets.
The helicopter went down around 10.30pm on Saturday in the west of the city.
TV footage soon after the crash showed flaming debris strewn across roads around four miles west of central Atlanta.
The missing nine-year-old child was subsequently found unharmed.
Mr Campos said officials were working with federal aviation authorities at the scene.
"It appeared to have hit the utility wire on the way down," he said.
Bystander Darryl James, 42, said he had been on his way to a cheque-cashing store when he saw the low-flying helicopter.
He said: "The tail end went down and there was an explosion. As soon as I got close enough to it, poom! It exploded.
"They could not survive it."
Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said an investigation had been launched into the crash.
The type of helicopter was unknown at this stage.
Power was cut off after the incident, with a Georgia Power utility crew on the scene.
Atlanta Police Chief George Turner said: "Losing an officer is the most difficult thing a police chief can face. Losing two is an unthinkable tragedy.
"Our hearts go out to the families of these officers and our thoughts and prayers are with them."