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Two people were killed when a helicopter crashed and burst into flames in Rowlett Friday morning, police say.
The helicopter, a Robinson R44, was headed west when for some reason it came down in an empty lot along the 2200 block of Lakeview Parkway, east of Dexham Road.
Video shared on social media appears to show the helicopter spinning out of control and falling with part of its tail boom and other pieces of the aircraft separated from the rest of the cabin.
“Witnesses said that the helicopter was crashing to the ground, that the rear rotor had separated from the helicopter and that the helicopter was dropping and spinning," said Rowlett Police spokesperson Cruz Hernandez.
After hitting the ground, the helicopter caught fire with the pilot and a passenger trapped inside, police said. The tail rotor landed on a nearby building.