Three killed in Grand Canyon air tour smash

71 die as Russian jet crashes two minutes after taking off

THREE people have died after a helicopter crashed while touring the Grand Canyon in Arizona on Saturday.

Local authorities say that seven people were on board the Las Vegas-based business Papillon helicopter.

Three have been confirmed dead, while four others were injured in the fiery wreckage.

The rugged terrain and high winds hampered rescue efforts.

“A Papillon Airways EC-130 vessel carrying a pilot and six passengers was reported to have crashed near Quartermaster Canyon, within the Grand Canyon on the Hualapai Nation,” a police chief said in a statement. “Three passengers are confirmed deceased and there are four level one trauma patients at the scene.”

Federal Aviation Adminstration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said that the helicopter, a Eurocopter EC130, crashed under “unknown circumstances”. ALL 71 people on board a plane died when it crashed moments after taking off. border, at 11.22am local time. The Antonov AN-148 reached an altitude of 6,200ft and fell at a rate of 3,300ft a minute before the signal was lost. Investigators said no distress signal was sent by the crew.

The jet blew up as it hit the ground and one witness said: “The explosion was huge. Everything was shaking.”

Snow and sub-zero temperatures were hampering recovery teams last night.

Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said victims will be identified by DNA. Saratov Airlines said there had been no concerns about the jet’s technical condition.