7 killed in Peru helicopter crash, including Americans

LIMA, Peru (CNN) -- Seven people, including five Americans, were killed when their helicopter crashed and exploded in central Peru, said Columbia Helicopters, the operator of the aircraft and employer of the victims.

The crash happened Monday afternoon after the chopper took off from the Pucallpa Airport, according to the Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation.

Minutes after takeoff, communication with the pilot was lost, and people in the control tower could see a heavy smoke column in the distance.

The helicopter was working near Pucallpa on a contract to support petroleum exploration operations, said the company's president, Michael Fahey.

"The loss of our employees hurts deeply, and I knew most of these men personally," he said in a written statement. "Our employees are grieving, and we are praying for the family members of the friends we lost."

On Tuesday, Columbia Helicopters identified the victims, who were the aircraft's pilots and crew. No other passengers were on board.

The two Peruvians killed in the crash were Igor Castillo and Luis Ramos. The Americans were identified as Dann Immel, Edwin Cordova, Jaime Pickett, Darrel Birkes and Leon Bradford.

Columbia Helicopters has dispatched an investigation team to work alongside Peruvian authorities, Fahey said.

A local police chief said three of the bodies were found away from the site of helicopter's crash and explosion, and that those bodies had no burn injuries, leading authorities to believe the three passengers jumped out before the crash.

Columbia Helicopters is based in Portland, Oregon.