News helicopter crash in North Carolina leaves pilot and meteorologist dead

Jack Birle

November 22, 07:05 PM November 22, 07:05 PM

A helicopter crash in Charlotte, North Carolina, killed two employees of the news department of the local CBS station WBTV.

WBTV meteorologist Jason Myers and Sky3 helicopter pilot Chip Tayag were killed in the crash on Interstate 77, the station confirmed in a statement Tuesday.

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“The WBTV family is grieving a terrible loss. Our news helicopter Sky3 crashed mid-day Tuesday with two of our colleagues on board. Meteorologist Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag lost their lives. We are working to comfort their families in this difficult time. We appreciate the outpouring of support for our staff and your continued prayers for their families,” the station said.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said the helicopter crashed on the side of the highway and that there were no vehicles involved in the crash at a media briefing Tuesday.

Jennings called the pilot a "hero" based on witness reports that Tayag had made moves to land off of the road rather than on the highway.

The right lane of I-77 south near Nations Ford Road is closed until midnight local time, per the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The NTSB confirmed in a tweet Tuesday that it is investigating the helicopter crash.