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Firefighting helicopter crashes in Florida; no survivors found

Fire fighters battled the blaze that ignited by the crashed helicopter into the night. Photo courtesy of Leesburg Fire Rescue/Facebook
Fire fighters battled the blaze that ignited by the crashed helicopter into the night. Photo courtesy of Leesburg Fire Rescue/Facebook

May 26 (UPI) -- A firefighting helicopter with four people on board crashed in central Florida during a training exercise, resulting in one confirmed death, officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk firefighting helicopter crashed into a marsh near Leesburg, Fla., airport at around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

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Fire crews were still on scene into the night, the Leesburg Fire Rescue said in a statement, adding that one death has been confirmed but there doesn't appear to be any survivors.

"The crash appears to be a total loss," the fire department said. "No survivors have been located."

The department added that a fire, which ignited as a result of the crash, has been brought under control, and the U.S. Forest Service was plowing a line around the scene to prevent further vegetation fires.

The officials said the FAA will initiate its investigation starting Wednesday.

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