EWANMEBABE
Jun 13, 04, 2:41 am
Man Jumps From Helicopter at Grand Canyon
Fri Jun 11, 6:30 PM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!
By JACQUES BILLEAUD, Associated Press Writer
PHOENIX - A man aboard a sightseeing helicopter took off his seat belt, opened a door and jumped to his death in Grand Canyon National Park in an apparent suicide, officials said.
The company operating the helicopter said the passenger removed his seat belt during the flight Thursday and leaped out.
Park officials offered few details on what led to the man's death, saying only that they believe he acted intentionally. The incident was still under investigation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (news - web sites) will not participate in the investigation because the Papillon Airways pilot tried to restrain the man, said FAA spokesman Mike Fergus.
"The pilot didn't do anything wrong," Fergus said. "They didn't know he was going to commit suicide."
Rachel Wilkie, a spokeswoman for Papillon Airways, said the company's canyon flights continued Friday. She declined further comment.
The man, whose identity wasn't released, plunged to his death in steep terrain near White's Butte about 90 miles northwest of Flagstaff.
The helicopter was returning to the canyon's South Rim when the man fell about 4,000 feet to his death. It is thought that the ast thing to go through his mond was his feet.
Four other passengers and the pilot were shaken but unharmed.
Fri Jun 11, 6:30 PM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!
By JACQUES BILLEAUD, Associated Press Writer
PHOENIX - A man aboard a sightseeing helicopter took off his seat belt, opened a door and jumped to his death in Grand Canyon National Park in an apparent suicide, officials said.
The company operating the helicopter said the passenger removed his seat belt during the flight Thursday and leaped out.
Park officials offered few details on what led to the man's death, saying only that they believe he acted intentionally. The incident was still under investigation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (news - web sites) will not participate in the investigation because the Papillon Airways pilot tried to restrain the man, said FAA spokesman Mike Fergus.
"The pilot didn't do anything wrong," Fergus said. "They didn't know he was going to commit suicide."
Rachel Wilkie, a spokeswoman for Papillon Airways, said the company's canyon flights continued Friday. She declined further comment.
The man, whose identity wasn't released, plunged to his death in steep terrain near White's Butte about 90 miles northwest of Flagstaff.
The helicopter was returning to the canyon's South Rim when the man fell about 4,000 feet to his death. It is thought that the ast thing to go through his mond was his feet.
Four other passengers and the pilot were shaken but unharmed.