Three dead after aircraft collide near Maryland airport

FREDERICK, Md. -- Police say an airplane and helicopter have collided in mid-air near the Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland.

Maryland State Police told CBS station WJZ in Baltimore that three people were killed. Two others were taken to a local hospital; their conditions were not released.

It's not clear which aircraft the victims were on when the collision took place.

"According to preliminary information, a Cirrus SR 22 aircraft and an R44 helicopter collided in mid-air near the southwest corner of Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland at about 3:40 p.m. today," the FAA said in t statement.

"The SR22 was inbound to the airport and the helicopter was involved in a training exercise when the accident occurred. The FAA and the NTSB will investigate."

Footage taken from WJZ's helicopter showed the airplane crashed into a stand of trees. A recovery chute deployed from the back of the plane.

Wreckage from the helicopter, which was used by a flight school in Frederick, was recovered about 100 yards away in an industrial park. An engine and air frame were all that was left.