An investigation will be launched after four people were killed in a helicopter crash in New Mexico in the United States.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office helicopter was headed back to Albuquerque after assisting firefighters battling a wildfire in another New Mexico city.
Sheriff's officials said three people from the sheriff's office and a county firefighter were aboard when it went down near the small regional centre of Las Vegas, about 197 kilometres north-east of Albuquerque.
The cause of the crash is unknown and will be investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.
Killed in the crash were Under Sheriff Larry Koren, Lieutenant Fred Beers, Deputy Michael Levison and county Fire and Rescue Department Specialist Matthew King.
The ages of the four men weren't immediately available.
An FAA spokeswoman had said the Bell UH-1H helicopter crashed around 10pm on Saturday, but sheriff's officials said it was about 7:20pm.
New Mexico State Police confirmed the crash and the fatalities around 12:15am on Sunday.
They said the helicopter and its crew had been assisting with a wildfire in the Las Vegas area, providing bucket drops and other air logistics needs to fire crews on the ground.
Sheriff's officials said they now are working with the Office of the Medical Investigator to recover the bodies of the four men and take them back to Albuquerque.
Aerial video from KOAT-TV showed the wreckage of the helicopter in at least two pieces among some desert shrubs, the Albuquerque Journal reported.
In the past several days, the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office used its Metro 2 helicopter to fight a small fire in the East Mountains near Albuquerque and another fire near Santa Fe, according to Albuquerque TV station KQRE.
"I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of four New Mexicans while in the line of duty," New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement.
"As we await additional details on the investigation, my office will offer any available support and assistance to the sheriff's office and the county.
"State resources will be fully available to assist the investigation."
ABC/AP
