CALEDONIA, Mich. (WZZM) -- Now that two people have been safely rescued from a helicopter that crashed into some treetops, emergency crews are figuring out how to remove the aircraft.
The crash was reported around 11:45 a.m. Friday in the 6900 block of 76th St. SE, near Thornapple River Dr.
The two people aboard are Consumers Energy contractors who were inspecting some high-voltage lines. They were uninjured in the crash but needed help getting down. Crews cut down trees to make room for bringing in a Hydaker-Wheatlake Power Line Supply Co. bucket truck to rescue them. There was some concern that it might be necessary to have a Coast Guard helicopter airlift them; that turned out not to be the case.
The pilot is 55-year-old Ken Wilson from Dolan Springs, Arizona. His passenger was 27-year-old Raymond Osan III from Stockbridge, Michigan. While waiting to be rescued, they were able to climb out of the helicopter and hold onto the treetops.
Another helicopter might be used to remove the aircraft; crews have been brainstorming how they'll get it out. The crashed helicopter is not in an area where it's posing a threat should it fall. It is heavily damaged, though.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash, trying to determine the cause.
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