KAFB Helicopter Crashes & Catches Fire

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - What started out as a routine traning mission for a crew with the 58th Special Operations wing at KAFB, ended in a firey crash Thursday.

The crash happened 25 miles southwest of the base.  Two instructor pilots, a flight engineer and instructor flight engineer were on board the Huey when the helicopter went down.  All four people were able to get out before the chopper blew up.  "That's obviously the number one thing.  I mean everything else we do after that are the things we need to do to make sure this doesn't happen again," said Col. James Cardoso, commander of the 58th.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but Cardoso does not believe wind was a factor.    He says the Huey has an excellent safety record.