More evacuations ahead in wake of crash

A helicopter Friday afternoon removed two sections of a radio tower damaged in this week's fatal Air Angels crash. The helicopter completed the operation shortly after 5 p.m.

The removal came after a day of preparation, as workers detached the two remaining guy wires that went to the uppermost portion of the radio tower. Workers began climbing the tower after 11:30 a.m., and by late afternoon had cut through the steel at a point beneath the damaged section, which was lifted off by the helicopter.

Engineers on Thursday determined there were structural problems with the tower because of the crash, police said.

Police had advised nearby residents to stay away from their homes until the damaged sections were removed. They were allowed to return Friday evening. However, residents living in the northern portion of the Amli apartment complex will be asked to leave again for several hours on Saturday as more repair work is completed, police said.

The buildings in which the engineers and Aurora Police are strongly encouraging residents to evacuate include 850 Amli Court; and 2860, 2830, 2790, 2770, and 2750 Amli Lane, police said. Apartment complex management were expected to send out a mass e-mail to those residents. In addition, Aurora police will knock on the doors of the residents who should evacuate, and they will also again be positioned at entrances to the complex.

Meanwhile, the owners of the radio station antenna said Friday, the lights -- a focus of the National Transportation Safety Board investigation -- were operating correctly on the tower Wednesday evening before the crash.

"We know the strobe lighting system on the tower was observed to be operating the night of the accident by the station general manager, Steve Marten, around 7 p.m.," Rick Jakle, president of WBIG-AM, said in a statement.

Jakle said the accident caused "substantial damage," about 50 feet below the top of the tower, which is 712 feet. 

"Our hope is to have the tower stabilized as soon as possible so the families in the apartment buildings and homes near the tower may return to their homes and our employees at the radio station can return to their office," Jakle said.

• Photos: Kirstin laid to rest
• Photos: Workers fix radio tower
• Photos: Copter crash probe begins
• Photos: Family's mourning begins
• Photos: The victims
• Photos: Crash scene

• Twitter: Latest developments

• Map: Crash site

Tuesday stories

• Tears, rain fall as tiny crash victim buried 
• Flight nurse a hero: 'Gave his life for little baby'
• Hero's selfless final act offers some solace'

Monday stories

• NTSB gets surveillance video
• Leland girl killed in crash laid to rest

Sunday stories

• Close-knit town asks to mourn in private
• Work finishes on damaged radio tower

Saturday stories

• Tower work complete, residents may return
• In wind, rain, workers chop up radio tower
• Radio tower well-known to local pilots

Friday stories

• Radio tower dismantled after helicopter crash
• Family of tiniest victim mourns flight crew
• Helicopter crash probe could take months
• Residents evacuating apartments near tower
• Witnesses describe the fiery crash
• Air Angels: 'We look at what's best for the patient'
• FAA under pressure to improve safety for EMS flights
• Crash turns focus on air transport safety
• Helicopter crew remembered as heroes
• Shock settles on emergency response crews

Thursday stories

• Aurora helicopter crash kills Air Angels crew, child
• Friends speak of Air Angels crew's dedication
• Witness: Debris rained down from the sky
• NTSB investigating cause of crash
• Police ask residents near crash to evacuate
• Last Air Angels crash in Fox Valley 5 years ago