Police Helicopter Crash Kills 2 in Arizona

FAA and NTSB are investigating the accident.

Bell 407
Bell 407 [Credit: Bell Helicopter]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A police helicopter crashed in Flagstaff, Arizona, while providing tactical air support for officers responding to a shooting incident.
  • Both individuals on board, the pilot and a trooper/paramedic, were killed in the crash.
  • The cause of the Bell 407 helicopter crash is currently unknown and is under investigation by the FAA and NTSB.
  • The suspect in the initial shooting incident was taken into custody with non-fatal gunshot wounds.
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A police helicopter crashed while responding to the scene of a shooting in Flagstaff, Arizona, on Wednesday, killing both people on board.

In a statement, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said the crew was providing “tactical air support” for the Flagstaff Police Department and other police agencies who were responding to the shooting.

The pilot and a trooper/paramedic were killed, the department said. Their identities have not been made public.

It was not immediately clear what caused the crash. More information is expected to be provided at a press conference Thursday.

In a statement, the FAA said the helicopter involved was a Bell 407.

The suspect in the shooting suffered nonfatal gunshot wounds and was taken into custody, according to police.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash.

Zach Vasile

Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.

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