A Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter crashed Thursday night near the Texas-Mexico border during a flight while taking part in Operation Lone Star.
A DPS spokesperson says that the single-engine helicopter experienced a total loss of power, before crashing, suffering 'substantial damage.' Both people on board, a pilot and co-pilot, survived the crash.
DPS said the two-person crew was flying using night vision goggles on what it called a border interdiction patrol flight. The co-pilot suffered a minor hand injury in the incident, according to the DPS spokesperson, who said the crash happened just before 7:30 p.m.
DPS said the crash involved a single-engine chopper and happened in a rural area roughly 50 miles southeast of Del Rio, where DPS operates its nearest air station.
The Department of Public Safety's Aircraft Operations Division operates 14 single-engine Airbus AS350 helicopters, as part of its program, flying out of 12 air bases spread out across the state of Texas.
A DPS spokesperson told KHOU11 that the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration had been notified of the crash and that the Texas Highway Patrol was securing the crash scene until federal investigators arrived.
