A pilot and a trooper were killed after an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter crashed while responding to assist officers during an active shooting, authorities confirmed via the Associated Press.
A Ranger helicopter crew was on its way to assist the Flagstaff Police Department and other law enforcement agencies when the fatal crash took place Wednesday (February 4) night, SAID Sgt. Kameron Lee of the department said in a statement.
“Tragically, during the incident, the helicopter crashed, killing both the pilot and the trooper/paramedic on board,” Lee said.
Authorities hadn’t released the names of the trooper or pilot at the time of publication Thursday (February 5) morning. The Bell 407 helicopter was reported to have crashed near Flagstaff at around 10:15 p.m. local time.
A fire was reported to have broken out afterward, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed in a statement obtained by the Associated Press. The helicopter was manufactured in 2004, a search for its registration number confirmed.
A map shared by KTVK-TV showed that the accident occurred northeast of the shooting scene. The FAA said it would assist the National Transportation Safety Board in its ongoing investigation into the crash and sent an email to the board seeking information on Thursday.
The suspect in the shooting suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds before being detained by police. No other individuals were reported to have been injured in the shooting.
Recent Comments