MADISON COUNTY, Ill. – An ARCH Air Medical helicopter crashed during a routine training exercise around 9:20 p.m. Thursday in Hartford, Illinois, leaving three people injured.

Crews from the FAA and local officials are carefully combing through the wreckage, looking for clues.

Authorities say it was supposed to be a simple training exercise. Instead, home security cameras captured the terrifying moment—just feet from Ashley Quigley’s home. 

“My 4-year-old wanted to watch it take off. I said, ‘Yes.’ We go outside. I shut the back door. I tapped him on the shoulder because he was running around,” Quigley said.

Officials say the aircraft was attempting to lift off from a vacant lot across from date street when it clipped a tree.

“It started spinning out of control. It slammed on the ground; it had a big boom and the first thing I saw was one of the guys laid out next to it. I started screaming,” Quigley said.

Three crew members from ARCH 1 based in Granite City—a pilot and two medical staffers—were rushed to the hospital. Authorities say all three are receiving care but are expected to be okay.

The FAA is now investigating the crash, focusing on whether tree limbs or nearby obstacles played a role. ARCH helicopter officials say safety is their top priority and they’re fully cooperating with investigators.

“(It was) very frightening at that moment and time. I didn’t know exactly what was going through my mind except to get my kids back in the house,” Quigley said.