Helicopter Crashes Near BWI Airport, Causes Brush Fire

LINTHICUM, Md. (WJZ) -- A helicopter crashed in Anne Arundel County, causing some scary moments near BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Saturday.

Amy Yensi has the latest.

The helicopter was conducting a survey for BGE when it came crashing down near the airport.

Rescue crews combed the woods near BWI where a helicopter crashed Saturday afternoon. Three people were on board when it hit the ground. The impact crushed the aircraft, a Bell 206 Jet Ranger.

"Upon arrival, our units found a helicopter in the woods on fire," said Victor Ferreira, BWI fire chief.

A BWI spokesperson tells WJZ the helicopter was performing inspections of electric transmission lines for the utility company. There was one BGE employee and two contractors on board at the time of the crash. They were identified as pilot Owen J. Garnett and passengers Kevin Tennis and Jordan Marsh.

No BGE equipment was affected during this incident.

"It kind of went into a slight nosedive. I just didn't believe it. I couldn't even get my phone out to take a picture; it was already down," said witness Michael Hawkins.

Even though the helicopter crashed near the airport---an area with a lot of traffic---no one on the ground was hurt.

The helicopter went down between Old Stony Run Road and the MARC train station, sparking a brushfire on the tracks. That led to a service interruption, causing delays for Amtrak passengers traveling between DC and Baltimore.

"We'll be working with BGE and the contractor and the FAA to find out exactly what happened with the flight," said BWI COO Wayne Pennell.

Fire officials say all three people will survive. They were taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

According to BWI, there is no impact on airline operations.

The investigation is ongoing.

Federal transportation and aviation agencies have been notified of the crash.