LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS KILLED IN THP HELICOPTER CRASH WHILE SEARCHING FOR MARIJUANA IDENTIFIED
UPDATE: Two law enforcement officers were killed in Tuesday’s helicopter crash, the Tennessee Highway Patrol has confirmed. A Tennessee Highway Patrol sergeant and a Marion County detective died in the incident, THP Captain Travis Plotzer said Tuesday night.
According to Marion County Sheriff Bo Burnett, the pilot’s name is THP Sgt. Lee Russell and the passenger’s name is Marion County Sheriff’s Office Det. Matt Blansett.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Bell 206 helicopter hit a power line and crashed in a wooded area of Aetna Mountain near the Whiteside community.
Sheriff Burnett says the flight was being conducted to find domestically grown marijuana using infrared technology and destroy it.
The NTSB is leading the investigation the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will also be investigating.
Local 3 News has a team working to learn more about the crash.
