Bodies of two missing men from reported helicopter crash recovered

Published 6:41 pm Thursday, July 22, 2021

: Graphic of the combined search patterns conducted by Coast Guard assets in the vicinity of the Albemarle Sound to search for two men who went missing after a reported helicopter crash on July 19, 2021. U.S. Coast Guard graphic

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The bodies of two missing men from a reported helicopter crash have been located, according to the Tyrrell County Sheriff’s Office.

On July 19, 2021, the Dare County Emergency Communications was notified of an overdue helicopter flight from Virginia to Manteo. The two men in the aircraft departed from Mecklenburg Brunswick Regional Airport in Virginia and planned to land at the Dare County Regional Airport the same evening, stated a press release from the Tyrrell County Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency responders were notified after a concerned friend lost communication with the two people aboard a Robinson R44 helicopter at 6:40 p.m. on Monday. A multi-agency search was initiated and debris from the helicopter was discovered during the course of the search at the mouth of the Alligator River.

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On Thursday, July 22, the unified command of the United States Coast Guard, Tyrrell County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina Wildlife, the North Carolina Marine Patrol and the US Fish & Wildlife, along with North Carolina Emergency Management was notified that one of the occupants from the aircraft was located in the Albemarle Sound, stated the TCSO release.

Responders recovered the body of John Arant, 35, of Virginia. Shortly afterwards, the body of his brother, Alan Arant, 36, of Virginia, who was the pilot of the aircraft, was also located.

“The Tyrrell County Sheriff’s office, as well as the Tyrrell County Emergency Management Office sends it’s most sincerest condolences to the Arant family during this painful time,” stated the release.

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