A Columbia Helicopters Chinook 235 twin rotor helicopter crashed in Pucallpa, Peru on Monday killing seven people who were on board.

Columbia Helicopters is based in Aurora, Oregon and the company has sent a team to investigate the cause of the crash.

The helicopter was working oil exploration operations.

President Michael Fahey says, "This is a very sad day for Columbia Helicopters." "We may operate globally, but we are still very much a family. The loss of our employees hurts deeply, and I knew most of these men personally. Our employees are grieving, and we are praying for the family members of the friends we lost."

The employees lost in the crash were:

Dann Immel, Command Pilot (hometown: Gig Harbor, WA)

Igor Castillo, Copilot (Peru)

Edwin Cordova, Maintenance Crew Chief (Melbourne, FL)

Luis Ramos, Aircraft Mechanic (Peru)

Jaime Pickett, Aircraft Mechanic (Clarksville, TN)

Darrel Birkes, Senior Load Manager (Peru)

Leon Bradford, Load Manager (Santaquin, UT)

Photo: Associated Press