Commercial Air Tour Passenger Fatality Occurs At Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon National Park officials were sad to report that a passenger on a commercial air tour helicopter exited the aircraft while it was in flight and fell to his death shortly before noon today. The helicopter, owned by Papillon Airways, Inc. originated at the Tusayan airport on the South Rim. It was on the Dragon Flight Corridor when the incident occurred near White's Butte, approximately two miles northwest of Hermit's Rest. The pilot and remaining five passengers were shaken but unharmed.

Rangers attempted to recover the body this afternoon, but high winds and steep terrain hampered their efforts. A recovery effort is scheduled to take place tomorrow morning. An investigation, involving the National Park Service, Coconino County Sheriff's Office, National Transportation Safety Board, and the Federal Aviation Authority is currently underway.

The man's identity has not been released, pending notification of next of kin.