Two people sustained serious injuries from a helicopter crash near Prineville Airport late Saturday morning.

According to a Prineville Police Department report, at approximately 11:35 a.m., on May 17, Prineville dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting a helicopter crash near the airport. Police and fire personnel responded to the scene and located a downed helicopter south of Southwest Houston Lake Road in the area of Crook County Landfill.

Emergency responders found two individuals at the crash site, an 80-year-old male pilot and a 46-year-old male passenger. Police did not disclose the names of the injured crash victims. Both sustained serious injuries and were treated at the scene before being airlifted to hospitals in Bend. The pilot later succumbed to his injuries.

The helicopter crashed into an open field approximately 200 yards off the roadway. No ground injuries or property damage were reported. Police said it appears the helicopter was privately owned.

The scene was secured, and there are no known ongoing hazards or threats to public safety. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were notified and took over the investigation.