Two veteran cops killed in horror police helicopter crash as chopper hits power lines

dailystar.co.uk:

cops were killed in a horror police helicopter crash after their aircraft collided with power lines in the United States. Moments before the crash, which occurred in Tennessee at around 4pm on Tuesday (August 23), the aircraft was reportedly seen flying 'erratically' in circles.

Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper Sergeant Lee Russell was killed alongside his passenger Marion County Sherriff's deputy Matt Blansett when their helicopter crashed into a wooded area near Aetna Mountain in Whiteside, Tennessee. READ MORE: Woman mysteriously poisoned after touching napkin left on her car on her birthday Officials said they had recovered the aircraft by Tuesday evening, but it remains unclear what prompted its final fatal plunge to the ground.Tributes were paid to Blansett, who was described as someone who would always 'lend a helping hand', by a neighbour in a Facebook post.Blansett, who was a local GOP commissioner who ran for re-election earlier this year, leaves behind a wife, Codie, and two sons, Maddox and Banks.Recounting the moment Codie learned the tragic news of her husband's death online, neighbour Kari Rosado paid tribute to Blansett.Rosado wrote: "We live on a private road where all of our neighbours look out for each other like family."After the search tonight at on the other side of the mountain I was hoping for good news."Rosado added: "When I saw the police vehicle pull in the driveway next door, my heart sank."There will not be anymore joking about the lawns being cut at the same time or trying to get Matt to workout all that chick fil A he eats.