Shocking Helicopter Crash Leaves CEO Dead: What We Know About the Rising Toll

Utah CEO Killed in Idaho Helicopter Crash

Bradford Brown, 59-year-old Alpine resident and CEO of an undisclosed tech firm, died instantly when his privately operated helicopter plunged into frozen Ririe Reservoir near Idaho Falls on February 21, 2025. The Robinson R44 aircraft sank through thin ice within minutes, leaving no chance of survival according to Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office reports .

D.C. Aviation Disaster Investigation Intensifies

This tragedy follows January’s catastrophic midair collision between American Eagle Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people. New evidence reveals:

• The military helicopter flew nearly 200 feet above its assigned altitude during training exercises
• Single air traffic controller managed both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft – half the standard staffing
• Black box data shows collision avoidance systems activated seconds before impact

Pattern of Close Calls Emerges

Federal investigators identified five near-misses between helicopters and commercial aircraft near D.C.’s airport since 2018, including one just 24 hours before January’s fatal crash. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy implemented immediate restrictions on rotary-wing traffic around major airports following these revelations .

Ongoing Recovery Efforts

Divers continue retrieving debris from both aircraft in the Potomac River’s treacherous conditions:

The NTSB expects preliminary findings by March 15 regarding potential staffing shortages and airspace management failures .