Medical helicopter crashes and bursts into flames in Illinois 'while on training exercise'

A medical helicopter has crashed while reportedly on a training exercise on Thursday evening.

The crash happened in Hartford, , around 9pm local time. Photographs taken at the scene show the helicopter seriously damaged and upside down under a tree. Witnesses say the rotor clipped a tree limb mid-air, while attempting to take off, before the chopper spiraled down and burst into flames, according to .

People on the scene told that four people were pulled out of the helicopter before it caught fire. A witness said three people were transported from the scene to area .

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A Facebook post made by the Hartford Fire Department just a few hours before the crash said the department was hosting a training exercise involving a helicopter landing in an empty lot by North Delamr and Date Street.

The read: Hello Hartford Residents. The Hartford Fire Department will be hosting ARCH Medical this evening for training. They will be landing a Helicopter this evening in the empty lot across Date Street.

"Please do not be alarmed. This is for training purposes only. If you would like to see the Helicopter up close, please DO NOT approach the Helicopter without authorization from ARCH. Helicopters can be Very Dangerous and this is one of the reasons for training. Thank you for your cooperation."

As of yet it is unclear if any injuries have been reported. The has contacted the Hartford Fire Department and ARCH Air Medical Services for comment.

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