CORNING, N.Y. (AP) - Authorities have released the names of two people killed when a helicopter checking power lines crashed in New York's Southern Tier.
Corning Fire Chief John Tighe tells
the Elmira Star-Gazette they were 41-year-old Dale Crout, a utility company worker from Watkins Glen, and 24-year-old Mackenzie Bleth of Grand Ronde, Ore.
Both died when the chopper got tangled in transmission lines and crashed Thursday afternoon near the Chemung River.
A New York State Electric and Gas spokesman said the helicopter was being used to survey and inspect the lines.
The McDonnell Douglas 369D belonged to Haverfield Aviation Inc. of Gettysburg, Pa., which contracts with NYSEG.
Tighe says federal aviation safety investigators remain at the scene Friday.
