Grim Search For Remains

Recovery teams made the sad trek into the Grand Canyon (AZ) Sunday, looking for victims of a tour flight that went down the day before. Officials say there's no chance anyone survived the crash.

The helicopter, owned by Sundance Helicopters (NV) and operated by A-Star Tours, took off from the Grand Canyon West Airport (AZ) with the pilot and six passengers on board. The Mohave County Sheriff's Department said the terrain at the crash site was so rugged, the only way in was on foot.

Most of the passengers on board were reportedly foreign tourists. The Japanese government says the pilot was from Japan, as were two of the passengers. The German government says at least two of its citizens also died in the crash. Identities of the victims have not been released.

The aircraft was reportedly an Aerospatiale AS-350. No further information on the type of aircraft or the problems that may have led to the accident were immediately available. The Sundance Helicopter website indicates the company flies Eurocopter Astars, in addition to Bell JetRangers.

Saturday's accident was the second deadliest canyon tour crash since 1995, when an aircraft went down while trying to return to Grand Canyon Airport. Eight people died in that incident.

Other recent helicopter crashes near the Grand Canyon include:

• May 2003: Grand Canyon tour helicopter crashed about 15 miles east of Meadview, injuring the pilot. No one else was on board. That helicopter was owned and operated by Papillon. The sightseeing helicopter crashed in a remote desert area under unknown circumstances.
• September 2002: A Las Vegas-based sightseeing helicopter crashed near the Grand Canyon. A Dutch tourist's leg was broken, but five other passengers and the pilot were unhurt. A preliminary federal report blamed hydraulic failure for the crash.
• August 2001: Sightseeing helicopter went down in the same area as the Papillon accident. Six people aboard that helicopter were killed. A federal report said it didn't appear the helicopter suffered mechanical failure before it slammed into steep cliffs.

FMI: www.helicoptour.com