Non-life threatening injuries reported after PBSO helicopter crashes

SUBURBAN DELRAY BEACH, Fla. -  A Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office helicopter crashed in suburban Delray Beach Friday afternoon.

The Bell 407 aircraft went down near 9547 Isles Cay Drive.

PBSO says witnesses saw the helicopter flying south along 441 near Atlantic Avenue. Suddenly it banked east, then south. Then it lost altitude. The helicopter then made a hard landing in the trees and brush.

The pilot and a co-pilot were transported to Delray Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

NewsChannel 5 Helicopter Pilot Captain Julie Stevens said it appeared some type of in-flight emergency happened. The helicopter's nose or chin bubble came to rest against a wall. She said the pilot might have been trying to land in a clear, sandy area near where the helicopter went down.

There are three sheriff's office helicopters. It's believed this one was based out of southern Palm Beach County.

Captain Julie noted that one of the main rotor blades was severely bent.

The helicopter that crashed has four blades and usually two people are onboard.

No injuries on the ground were reported.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

NewsChannel 5's Marissa Bagg contributed to this report.