WASHINGTON — The helicopter flight school at Frederick Municipal Airport where a helicopter and a small plane collided Thursday suspended its operations.
“Advanced Helicopter Concepts voluntarily suspended all of its operations for the time being so that we can fully evaluate the situation and provide our full assistance to the NTSB,” said Chris Hollingshead, a spokesman for the company during a Friday news conference.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.
“This is a terrible accident,” he said.
Hollingshead, an employee at Advanced Helicopter Concepts, said tight-knit company is “shocked” and “horrified” by what happened.
The flight school, which has been in business since 1987, has extended its condolences to the families of the three men killed in the crash: Christopher Parsons, 29, of Westminster, Maryland; William Jenkins, 47, of Morrison, Colorado; and Breandan MacFawn, 35, of Cumberland, Maryland.
He describes Parsons as an experienced helicopter instructor. Will Jenkins also was an experienced helicopter and fixed wing pilot. Jenkins was looking to rent the helicopter, Hollingshead said. MacFawn was a passenger.
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WTOP’s Kathy Stewart contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on WTOP Facebook page.
