POCAHONTAS COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – UPDATE 7/10/26 12:42 PM: A helicopter pilot killed in a crash Friday morning in Pocahontas County has been identified as 57-year-old Leo Basile, an employee of WACO Oil and Gas.
WACO Oil and Gas confirmed the helicopter involved in the crash belonged to the company and that Basile was flying the aircraft at the time of the accident.
The crash occurred at approximately 7:45 a.m. near Huntersville, close to a cabin owned by WACO Oil and Gas owner Ike Morris.
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UPDATE: Sources confirm to LOOTPRESS that one person has died in the crash.
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ORIGINAL STORY: Crews are currently responding to a helicopter crash in Pocahontas County.
According to Pocahontas County emergency officials, a helicopter has crashed near the community of Huntersville between Marlinton and Minnehaha Springs.
According to the NTSB, they are investigating the crash of a Sikorsky S76D helicopter.
Federal authorities are en route to the scene, and LOOTPRESS has reached out to the FAA for more information.
There’s currently no official word on how many were aboard the helicopter and the extent of any injuries.
