There was no distress call from the Virginia State Police helicopter that crashed in a wooded area outside of Charlottesville, Virginia Saturday after documenting the violent demonstrations and protests in the city. Killed in the accident were the pilot, 48-year-old Lt. H. Jay Cullen, a veteran Virginia State Police trooper with nearly 20 years of flight experience and 41-year-old Trooper Berke M. M. Bates, who was training to be a pilot.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is investigating the incident, said the flight crew was conducting a continuous video feed of activities on the ground until the helicopter was diverted to provide support for a motorcade carrying Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.