I just want to give you *** quick update at about 12 o'clock this afternoon charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department received *** call for *** helicopter crash on I 77 on the southbound side. Officers responded to the scene and tragically uh confirmed that there was *** helicopter crash as well as two victims who had who were deceased on the scene. Currently, we're still investigating the the incident. Uh C. M. P. D. Is assisting in traffic control and the diversion of traffic. We are not able to release any information about the helicopter itself and also about the victims that were inside of the helicopter as well. Uh what I can confirm with you is that no vehicles were involved in the in the incident. Uh and that the the helicopter crash occurred off off to the side of the roadway. Uh The NTSB and the FAA will be conducting the investigation and the charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department at this time, along with the charlotte Fire Department and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol will be assisting in securing the scene uh and awaiting the arrival of the investigators for the FAA and the NTSB. So with that, I will take any questions that you might have with the understanding that I cannot discuss the victims as well as the aircraft that had that has crashed. When you say, you can't talk about the aircraft, do you mean like confirm what, where the aircraft came from? That's correct. It is *** small helicopter aircraft that is, that is crashed. But however, as far as identifying where the aircraft is from, that is something that we're not ready to release and just ask the respect of the families, we do have to make some notifications. Uh, and that's gonna take some time. But as soon as we get that, that information, I'm sure it will be released. Speaking. It's very difficult. It's tragic in that, uh, on top of that, we're looking at going into the holiday season where we're supposed to be spending time with our loved ones. Uh, and tragically, there are two people involved in this crash that will not be going home and will not be spending the holidays with their families. So it's *** huge loss, tragic loss. And it's just something that you can't put into words to try and uh, you know, offer condolences to the families. I do ask that we do pray for the families of both of these victims. It's going to be *** difficult holiday season. I know it's early right now the investigation, but are you witnesses? There are reports that we called some heroics here as to where this helicopter landed compared to where it could have. That's correct. I have heard that as well, that it seems the pilot that was operating the aircraft, uh, made some diversionary moves to avoid hitting traffic, fortunately there was no vehicles involved in it. And I think that's, uh, as we move forward. To me, it looks like *** heroic, um, uh, um, incident where the pilot tried to avoid injuring anyone else in putting anyone else in danger. And if if that is truly the case then that pilot is *** hero to in my eyes to make sure that the safety and security of those that were driving on the road was not in jeopardy. So do you have an idea about how many witnesses there might have been you guys have been able to speak to? I'm not sure, I know there's *** couple that had stayed on the scene, but we're still looking at anyone who was *** witness to. It is certainly, I'm sure the NTSB and the FAA is is gonna be uh interested in speaking with those individuals. I don't have information on how to get in touch with with them at this time, but I'm sure that that's something that they'll be interested in having that conversation, investigators are on their way now. How long do you believe that scene in the trap to be closed? Yeah. So right now traffic is closed on 77 southbound between Tabbouleh and Arrowood Road. Uh I don't anticipate that opening anytime soon. So anyone who can avoid that area, if that's if that's *** route of your destination, please that avoid that area and if at all possible because traffic is going to be backed up for some time. Uh and I anticipated going through rush hour and possibly through the night. But as investigators arrive, I don't have an estimated time of arrival for them. But as they arrive, we're gonna be looking for the need to continue to have all of the lanes blocked. And if we can certainly open up *** lane or to to allow traffic to flow, we will we will do that when possible. But again, as I mentioned, uh, the charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, the charlotte Fire Department and the north Carolina Highway Patrol are assisting in this to ensure that uh, that we have traffic flow and safety of that of that scene as much as possible.