The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has issued the following press release:
Albuquerque, NM – On July 16 at approximately 7:20 p.m., the BCSO helicopter known as Metro 2 crashed just outside of Las Vegas, NM. The helicopter and its crew were assisting with a wildfire in the area, providing bucket drops and other air logistics needs to fire crews on the ground.
As a multifaceted/multiagency investigation is currently ongoing, the information we provide in this update is still considered preliminary. We ask for your patience and respect as we navigate the situation. At this time, the specific cause of the crash is unknown. Today we are working with the Office of the Medical Investigator to recover the fallen from the crash site and escort them to Albuquerque.
Our focus remains on providing care and support for the surviving family members as they grapple with the situation. We can share with you the names of the individuals on the aircraft as follows:
Undersheriff Larry Koren
Lieutenant Fred Beers
Deputy Michael Levison
Rescue Specialist Matthew King (BCFR)
In the coming days, we will announce a time and location for an official press conference. To ensure the continuity of the information being published in the media, we are not currently answering individual inquiries. Rather, we are providing unified official press releases such as this one. Please remain patient and be assured we will provide updates at on a regular interval. Thank you for your grace and understanding.