Tragedy struck the Spring Branch area this week as two individuals lost their lives in a devastating helicopter crash, authorities have confirmed. Richard Herr, 62, and Kevin Berry, 43, were identified as the victims in the accident that occurred on April 29, 2024, after their aircraft went down just after 3 p.m. near U.S. Highway 281, Fox San Antonio reported.

Emergency services rushed to the scene off Lantana Ridge following the crash, the Comal County Sheriff's Office informed, where the doomed Hummingbird 260L—an experimental amateur-built helicopter—lay in ruin, taking its pilots with it; this according to an announcement by the National Transportation Safety Board on social media, News 4 San Antonio added.

As federal and local agencies—including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)—delve into the investigation of the cause this catastrophic event, the community mourns the sudden loss. The NTSB's preliminary findings indicate the helicopter was of the experimental variety, an increasingly popular trend amongst aviation enthusiasts, yet one not without risks. This story, still unfolding, promises more details as agencies continue to investigate and will be followed closely by officials and residents alike for any new developments.