A police helicopter crashed outside of an apartment building, killing one officer and leaving the pilot in critical condition

• A Houston Police Department helicopter struck the outside of an apartment building Saturday morning.
• The crash killed one officer inside the helicopter. The pilot is in critical condition, according to Art Acevedo, chief of the Houston Police Department.
• "If that aircraft would've crashed into an occupied building it would've been an ugly scene," Acevedo told media on Saturday. "As a result of that silver lining, we didn't have any other loss of life and we have a pilot sitting there fighting for his."
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A Houston Police Department helicopter struck the outside of an apartment building Saturday morning, killing one police officer and injuring another.

Police had sent the helicopter to investigate a call that reported bodies in a Houston bayou. The helicopter, carrying an officer and a pilot, crashed just outside an apartment building.

The crash killed tactical flight officer Jason Knox, according to a statement from the HPD's official Twitter feed. Knox was a 35-year-old father of two who swore in as an officer in 2012. The pilot had been extracted from the helicopter and is in critical condition.

The police will investigate the crash as a potential homicide, chief of the department Art Acevedo told media on Saturday, to ensure there was no criminal activity. Acevedo said the "silver lining" of the tragedy was the "good piloting," which kept the helicopter from crashing directly into the occupied apartment building.

"If that aircraft would've crashed into an occupied building it would've been an ugly scene," Acevedo said. "As a result of that silver lining, we didn't have any other loss of life and we have a pilot sitting there fighting for his."

Business Insider has contacted the Houston Police Department for additional comment. Check back for more information.