People who heard a helicopter crash rushed to the site to help remove the pilot from the burning aircraft in a wooded area in central New Hampshire, police said Sunday.
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The pilot was the helicopter’s only occupant when it crashed into a residential property in Merrimack County, the New Hampshire State Police said in a news release. He was “conscious, breathing and alert” when authorities from various agencies arrived and transported him to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center with “serious but non life-threatening injuries,” police said. The pilot was not identified
In this aerial photo released by New Hampshire State Police, the remains of a helicopter that crashed and caught fire are seen on Saturday, June 1, 2024, Danbury, New Hampshire. The pilot, who was not identified, survived the crash.
New Hampshire State Police via AP
The Hughes TH-55 helicopter went down Saturday afternoon about 30 miles northwest of the state capital, Concord, and caused a fire that was spreading to the woods before the arrival of firefighters, police said. An initial probe into the incident suggested that the pilot lost control of the helicopter near a landing site and subsequently crashed into the wood line of the property.
A National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson said the helicopter will be moved to an offsite facility for further examination as part of its investigation. The NTSB is leading the investigation along with the Federal Aviation Administration. New Hampshire State Police have asked anyone who witnessed the crash to contact the Danbury Police Department.
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The two-seater TH-55 Osage was originally used by the military as a training helicopter, taking flight for the first time in 1956, but many of them have since found their way into civilian use.
CONCORD, N.H. — Those who attend crowded outdoor events in New Hampshire may soon notice troopers deploying a new tool to identify potential threats from above.
New Hampshire State Police secured permission on Wednesday to buy a mobile trailer equipped with a drone detection system that uses cameras, radar, and artificial intelligence to monitor the skies for small unmanned aircraft systems that might pose a threat to public safety.
Robert L. Quinn, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Safety, said the system will be useful at a variety of public gatherings, including festivals, sporting events, and protests. His written explanation for the purchase mentioned several events known to draw crowds in the state, including seafood festivals, Independence Day fireworks, and Laconia Motorcycle Week.
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“This system will address emerging security threats, protect critical infrastructure, safeguard public events, and enhance emergency response capabilities,” he wrote.
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This technology will be new to the New Hampshire State Police, but it comes from a company that has been providing similar services to other states. Dedrone Holdings Inc. — which was acquired last fall by Axon, a major manufacturer of body-worn cameras for police — offers instant access to drone detection data in more than 50 metro areas, including Greater Boston, through an app.
The “Dedrone Rapid Response” mobile unit that New Hampshire is buying is a physical piece of equipment with a self-contained generator and a tower that extends more than 44 feet into the air, enabling radio frequency detection within a 5-mile radius, according to the company.
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New Hampshire’s five-member Executive Council approved the $275,000 purchase on Wednesday, without discussion.
Quinn referred follow-up questions to a department spokesperson, Tyler P. Dumont, who said the money is coming from federal Homeland Security grant funds.
While the use of surveillance and emerging technologies by law enforcement always leads to questions about the protection of civil liberties, Dumont said state personnel will aim to use the Dedrone tool in a way that enhances public safety without infringing on the privacy or legal rights of individuals and drone operators.
“We will implement safeguards to ensure that any usage of AI is supplemented by human review and verification, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations,” he said.
What’s more, the drone detection system is a monitoring tool that won’t be used to disable any aircraft deemed a potential threat, he added.
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Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter.
A motorcyclist was killed in a crash with an SUV in a town in New Hampshire on Tuesday, authorities said.
Officers responding to a report of a collision on Charles Bancroft Highway in Litchfield found a damaged Toyota Rav4 and a Harley-Davidson resting in a southbound travel lane, and the motorcycle driver unresponsive on the ground, according to the Litchfield Police Department.
The motorcyclist, who police identified as 41-year-old Jean Lopes, of Hudson, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary findings indicated that the motorcycle driver struck the rear of the Rav4, police noted.
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The New Hampshire Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has been tasked with examining Lopes.
An investigation into the crash remains ongoing.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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