Three sightseers injured in rough landing

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000 | 8:55 a.m.

Three sightseers were injured when the helicopter they were in landed roughly during an air tour of the Grand Canyon.

There were seven people on board the S-55 helicopter, which is owned and operated by Papillon Helicopters, according to a National Transportation Safety Board spokeswoman.

The group was taking an air tour of the Grand Canyon when the pilot was forced to land for unknown reasons at about 8:30 a.m. Monday.

The landing took place about four miles east of Hoover Dam on the Arizona side.

Three passengers suffered minor injuries and were hospitalized for treatment, the spokeswoman said. Remaining details of the incident, including the exact landing location, were not immediately released.

The company operates its own fleet of 24 Bell jet powered helicopters, according to the Papillon Web site. More than 150,000 Grand Canyon visitors fly with the company annually.

A spokesman for the company could not be reached for comment.

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