FREDERICK, Md., Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Three people are dead after a small plane collided with helicopter in midair over Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland Thursday afternoon.
Local fire chief Clarence Jewell told the local Fox affiliate that two others were injured in the crash. Maryland State Police confirmed that no injuries were reported on the ground, suggesting that two people may have escaped the collision alive.
PHOTOS: First pics from the crash scene near #Frederick after mid-air collision. MORE: http://t.co/em5yLGbcmp pic.twitter.com/19kvKKYZdH
— FOX 5 DC (@fox5newsdc) October 23, 2014
A small aircraft could be seen on Fox's traffic copter cam footage, tangled in the tree canopy of nearby woods. FAA records indicate the Cirrus SR22 was inbound for the Frederick airport when the collision happened.
A picture posted to Facebook by the Frederick Scanner showed an aircraft parachute caught in the trees. Reports indicate the chute was deployed in the wake of the crash, slowing the craft's descent. The helicopter broke into pieces upon hitting the ground.