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Several calls for a distressed plane arrived around 6:30 p.m., Monroe County Sheriff Todd K. Baxter said at a press conference.
“According to the 911 reports … there were sputum calls, the sounds of an engine and the plane was flying very low, lower than normal,” Baxter said.
First responders arrived to find a helicopter on fire.
“They went into rescue mode, trying to rescue anyone who might be on the plane or in the area,” Baxter said, adding that the debris field currently extends a few blocks, or about 100 feet. in each direction.
The helicopter was a UH-60 Black Hawk medevac helicopter. The incident is under investigation, the Military and Naval Affairs Division said, adding that no further information was immediately available.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office will conduct a preliminary investigation into the crash, Baxter said. His office will then turn the investigation over to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Guard.
“It is a heavy burden on all of us. These are our providers of freedom. … We have lost three brave Americans today in the service of our country,” Baxter said.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement he was “devastated” by the deaths of the soldiers.
“Members of the National Guard are our citizen soldiers who voluntarily serve and protect at home and abroad, and I extend the prayers and condolences of all New Yorkers to the family, loved ones and fellow warriors of those honorable heroes whom we will never forget. “
The governor ordered that the flags on all state buildings be lowered to half the staff on Thursday to honor the victims.
CNN’s Sonia Moghe contributed to this report.
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