Investigators are working feverishly in order to determine the reason for a helicopter crash in Peru that resulted in the death of seven people, including five American citizens.

The victims were on board a two-rotor Boeing Model 234 Chinook and in the midst of oil exploration operations when the aircraft crashed near Pucallpa, Peru, on Monday afternoon, according to a WTVR source. The victims were all under the employment of Columbia Helicopters, a Portland-based company.

Witnesses of the horrific event said that the aircraft exploded after smashing into the ground, according to a New York Times source.

"We've notified all the authorities and are cooperating with everyone fully, and we'll do everything we can to learn any causes ... of the accident," Michael Fahey, Columbia Helicopters president and CEO, explained.

"It's a very sad day for us. We operate globally, but we're a family and we're very close to our employees. And I personally knew many of the individuals who died as our other employees know many of them. We're grieving for them."

Fahey also stated that Columbia Helicopters has sent out a team of investigators to work alongside Peruvian authorities. The victims of the tragedy were the helicopter's pilots and crew members. There were no other passengers on the plane, Columbia Helicopters confirmed

Igor Castillo and Luis Ramos were the two Peruvians who died aboard the aircraft while the Americans were Dann Immel, Edwin Cordova, Jaime Pickett, Darrel Birkes and Leon Bradford.

The chief of the local police said that three of the late individuals' bodies were found far from the crash site and explosion, and had no burn injuries, indicating that they may have jumped out prior to the helicopter's impact.

At time of publication, it still remains uncertain as to what the cause of the crash was.

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