Flight instructor hurt when student crashes chopper at Cahokia airport

A flight instructor suffered minor injuries when a student crashed a helicopter during a flight training Tuesday at St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia.

The crash, which occurred about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, resulted in minor injuries, according to Herb Simmons, St. Clair County’s Emergency Management Agency director.

Patti Beck, spokeswoman for Bi-State Development, which oversees the airport, said two people were aboard: an instructor and a student.

Beck said the flight instructor suffered minor injuries.

“The student assisted him in getting out of the helicopter after the crash,” Beck said.

The instructor was taken to Saint Louis University Hospital, Beck said.

Beck said a Robinson 22 helicopter, owned by Midwest Helicopter, crashed on a grassy area during a flight training.

Interim Cahokia Police Chief Dave Landmann said the crash happened at 1:28 p.m..

“Two people were aboard the helicopter, a 30-year-old pilot from Ramsey, Ill., and a 29-year-old male from St. Louis, Mo.,” Landmann said. “They said they were hovering not far from the ground when a gust of wind came and they lost control.”

An FAA spokeswoman confirmed that the FAA is investigating the crash. She said it could take several weeks to complete.

The spokeswoman, Elizabeth Cory, said, “We are just beginning our investigation. It could take several weeks, possibly a month or more.”

This story was originally published June 7, 2016 at 2:29 PM with the headline "Flight instructor hurt when student crashes chopper at Cahokia airport."