Helicopter Crashes Near BWI Airport; No Serious Injuries Reported: LATEST

A helicopter crashed onto train tracks near Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

Just before 1 p.m., the helicopter crashed in the area of Aviation Boulevard between the BWI MARC Station and Old Stoney Run Road, according to Maryland State Police. According to the FAA, the helicopter made a hard landing on railroad tracks.

Three people inside the helicopter had been accounted for and were taken to the hospital as a precaution. No serious injuries were reported.

The three reported they were checking power lines in the area when the crash occurred. Police identified the three people on board as Owen J. Garnett, 42, of Montrose, Pa., Kevin A. Tennis, 29, of Colora and Jordan M. Marsh, 34, of Monkton. Garnett was the pilot of the helicopter.

The helicopter, a Bell 206 Jet Ranger, was destroyed in the crash and subsequent fire. After the crash, the helicopter caught fire, which spread to the surrounding brush area and was extinguished by fire department personnel.

The helicopter is owned by Sky River Helicopter, of Pittstown, N.J. Police have not determined a cause of the crash.

"The helicopter that crashed this afternoon was a helicopter contractor performing inspections of electric transmission lines for BGE," BGE said in a statement. "There was one BGE employee and two contractors on board at the time of the crash. All three individuals are not reporting serious injuries, but were transported as a precaution to a local hospital. No BGE equipment was affected during this incident."

The FAA released the following statement:

"A Bell B06 helicopter made a hard landing on railroad tracks one mile northwest of Baltimore Washington Airport at 1p.m. today. The helicopter was making power line inspections. The FAA will investigate."

BWI officials said that airport operations were not impacted, as the crash happened off the grounds of the airport.

MARC and Amtrak train service were disrupted in the area, the Baltimore Office of Emergency Management reported.