A tragedy struck a Spring Branch neighborhood Monday afternoon when a helicopter went down, leaving two dead. The Comal County Sheriff's Office confirmed that a Hummingbird 260 helicopter crashed around 3 p.m. in the 600 block of Lantana Ridge, a quiet residential area east of U.S. 281. The accident occurred not far from Spring Branch and Bulverde, just about thirty miles north of San Antonio, as reported by KENS 5.

Witnesses and first responders found the aircraft's pilot and passenger pronounced dead at the scene, the Sheriff's Office stated. Efforts to quickly ascertain the cause of the crash are now underway, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) leading the investigation, as per Express News.

Little additional information has surfaced regarding the victims or the circumstances leading up to the incident. Officials have not yet released the identities of those involved in the harrowing event.

The helicopter model, known for being sold as a kit with prefabricated components by Vertical Aviation Technologies, requires roughly 1,200 hours to fully assemble. Designed to comfortably hold up to four passengers, the Hummingbird 260 is crafted from a combination of aluminum and composites. The crash of such a craft has disturbingly turned a peaceful neighborhood into a scene of devastation.

This incident follows a string of small aircraft crashes that have caught national attention, once again highlighting potential concerns over the safety of such aircraft. The ongoing investigation by the FAA and NTSB aims to shed light on the crash's cause and prevent future tragedies. No further details have been released as of yet; this is a developing story.