Two Baton Rouge police officers die in helicopter crash over sugar cane field

Two Baton Rouge police officers died Sunday from a helicopter crash in West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.

The crash is believed to have occurred in the early morning hours local time with a helicopter that belonged to the Baton Rouge Police Department that was used in pursuit of a Ford Mustang that ultimately got away, according to authorities. The exact cause of the crash is unclear.

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“Our hearts are heavy as we learn about the two Baton Rouge Police Department officers killed in the line of duty today,” the nearby Denham Springs Police Department wrote in response to the crash. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the officers, the Baton Rouge Police Department, and the Baton Rouge community.”

It appears authorities may not have been aware the chopper was downed for some time, WAFB reported. Officials embarked on a search and later found the wreckage.

Debris from the crash was found in a cane field near N. Winterville Rd. off Highway 190 near Port Allen, according to multiple reports.

An investigation into the incident by the Federal Aviation Agency and National Transportation Safety Board is set to commence in response.

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The Baton Rouge Police Department has not disclosed the names of the fallen officers.

The Washington Examiner contacted local authorities for additional information.