Hikers discovered a crashed helicopter northeast of Meeker at around 6:50 a.m. Thursday after it went missing the day before, according to a news release from the Rio Blanco Sheriff’s Office.

At around 8:12 p.m. Wednesday, the Rio Blanco Communications Center was notified of a missing helicopter that had departed from the Meeker Airport earlier that morning and had not returned when expected.

“Upon receiving the report, Rio Blanco County initiated a cellphone trace and activated its Search and Rescue Coordinator,” the news release states. “Aerial search efforts were conducted in coordination with Classic Air Medical, focusing on the areas identified through preliminary tracking and cell signal range.”

The helicopter was not located before nightfall despite “extensive” search efforts, the news release adds.

The search continued at around 6 a.m. Thursday, with the support of Meeker-based Coulter Aviation, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, Classic Air Medical and family members who began hiking in the area of the suspected crash.

Hikers reported discovering the crash, which was later confirmed by Coulter Aviation, around 6:50 a.m.

The Rio Blanco Sheriff’s Office and Meeker Fire Rescue were then dispatched to the scene.

“The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have been notified and will be responding to assume control of the investigation and assess the scene in accordance with federal procedures,” the news release adds.

The investigation is ongoing and no further information is available at this time, states the release.