Three killed in Utah helicopter crash

PRICE, Utah, July 20 (UPI) -- Three men were killed in Utah when a helicopter crashed shortly after taking off from an area airport, police say.

Carbon County Sheriff James Cordova said the aircraft crashed Saturday near the county's airport where it had refueled, the Deseret Morning News reported Sunday.

"We can't even begin to speculate what happened to them up there," Cordova said. "The wind conditions weren't that great, and it was a pretty hot day."

"I'm no expert on airplanes, but I don't believe that helped their situation."

Temperatures in the area reached 96 degrees, but witnesses said strong wind gusts may have been responsible for the crash.

Witnesses also said the three men had been returning from a camping trip in Utah's Green River region when the helicopter went down.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are expected to investigate, the Morning News reported.