Accident investigators in the Bahamas say they've recovered the helicopter that crashed off the coast of a remote private island on July 4.
The Bahamas Air Accident Investigation Department says on its website that a Florida-based contractor pulled the Agusta helicopter from the ocean Saturday night. The helicopter was expected to be taken to Fort Lauderdale and then to an accident investigation facility in Fort Pierce, Florida. The accident investigation department also says it's interviewing witnesses on Big Grand Cay. The department has said the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Safety Board of Italy and the manufacturer of the aircraft and engine would all provide assistance with the investigation.
Accident investigators continue to conduct underwater surveying and mapping of the site of the crash that killed West Virginia coal magnate Chris Cline, his daughter and two of her LSU sorority sisters, as well as three others.
LSU and Phi Mu sorority identified the victims as Jillian Clark of Kenner, Kameron Cline and Brittney Searson as three of the seven victims. All graduated in May 2019. Clark was also a standout volleyball player at Mt. Carmel Academy, where she played on two state championship teams.
Virginia billionaire Cline was the owner of the helicopter involved. Kameron Cline was his daughter.
Bahamas Police Superintendent Shanta Knowles said the search began off the islands of Big Grand Cay, which Cline owned, when police received a report from Florida that a group including Cline had failed to arrive as expected Thursday in Fort Lauderdale.
A Royal Bahamas Police Force statement said authorities and local residents found the crash site two miles off Big Grand Cay, a group of private islands Cline owned.
The Bahamas Air Accident Investigation Department says that an operation has been underway since the crash of the Augusta AW139 chopper.
The Investigation Department said via Twitter that salvage teams were "in place at the crash site" and were conducting "underwater surveying and mapping of debris field."
Knowles said the bodies of the four women and three men have been taken to the capital in Nassau to be officially identified. said information was preliminary and subject to change, but she did not believe there had been a distress call from the aircraft.
A specialized ship was brought in from Florida with equipment to pull the helicopter from the water.