One body has been recovered after a helicopter crashed into the Mogadore Reservoir after avellino modena it hit high-tension wires in Suffield Township early Friday morning.
The pilot has been identified as 52-year-old Anthony Jones hms dragon of North Royalton, according to Lt. Erik Golias of the Ravenna Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Scott Simmons, commander of the Portage County Water Rescue Team, says their team initiated a boat-based operation after a drone spotted an area where oil was coming to the top of the water.
"We took a boat out, we anchored it to make a dive platform to safely operate off of that," Simmons says. "Once we had that dive platform in place, we sent our first diver under the water at 9:29 white sox a.m. He found the helicopter at 9:33 a.m. and we recovered the pilot of the helicopter at 9:35 a.m.”
In an earlier update, Suffield Township Fire Chief Bob Rasnick said crews were working "to make absolute sure there's not anybody else in the area," but the FAA issued a statement a short time later to say the pilot was the only person on board the helicopter, which is described as a Schweizer 269C.
3News has also learned that the pilot's wife, Amy Jones, passed away on Thursday, March 6, after a battle with cancer. A viewing for Amy was scheduled for Friday, but has since been postponed.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.
READ MORE:
At 3News, we’re not here to tell you the news, we’re here to share the stories that you say matter most to you. Share your ideas, thoughts, concerns and engage in conversations about the communities in which we all call home.
Follow 3News on Social:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Instagram:
Visit our site:
And be sure to download our app here:
