A helicopter Bell 407
Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press
A lake in Potrerillos, Argentina
Enrique Marcarian / Getty Images
Two people died Saturday when a helicopter that was flying to the set of the MTV show The Challenge crashed in western Argentina, local authorities said.
The pilot and a technician on board the Bell 206 helicopter died when it crashed over the reservoir at Potrerillos Dam in Mendoza, said the security minister for Mendoza province, Gianni Vernier, according to the Associated Press.
The helicopter was subcontracted by both MTV and Bunim/Murray Productions.
“The thoughts and prayers of all at MTV and Bunim/Murray are with those who lost their lives in this tragedy and their families during this difficult time,” the network said in its statement.
The names of the deceased have not been released, but MTV said there were two onboard and no members of the cast or crew were in the helicopter during the crash. MTV is currently in the process of filming the 28th season of The Challenge: The Rivals III.
Search crews are still trying to reach the wreckage, which was about 200 feet below the surface of the water, the AP reported. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
This is the second deadly helicopter crash in Argentina related to a reality show. In March, two helicopters collided while carrying the cast and crew of the French survival series Dropped, killing all 10 onboard, including several Olympic-medal sports stars.
