HOUSTON, Texas — Houston police say an officer has died and another remains in critical condition following a helicopter crash.
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo says the helicopter was carrying a pilot and a tactical flight officer when it went down at an apartment complex in north Houston around 2 a.m. Saturday.
Police say Tactical Flight Officer Jason Knox later died and the pilot underwent surgery and that they were hopeful he would survive.
The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known. No one on the ground was injured. Acevedo says the helicopter was called to help with a search for bodies in a nearby bayou, prompted by a tip that may have been “bogus.”
Governor Greg Abbott today released the below statement following a helicopter crash that killed one Houston Police Department officer and left another critically injured.
"The First Lady and I join with the people of Houston in mourning the loss of the Houston Police Department officer who was killed in this tragic accident," said Governor Abbott. "This terrible loss is a solemn reminder of the risks our law enforcement officers face in the line of duty. Our hearts are with the officer’s loved ones and the entire Houston Police Department during this time, and we pray for a swift and full recovery for the officer who was critically injured in this accident."
