Arizona DPS Helicopter Crash Follows Active Shooter Incident in Flagstaff
– A deadly day unfolded in Flagstaff, Arizona, involving an active shooter incident and the subsequent crash of an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter. The helicopter crashed near the scene of the shooting, according to reports.
The incident began with reports of an active shooter in Flagstaff. As Arizona DPS officers responded, a police helicopter crashed in the area north of the railroad tracks, , according to a post on Facebook.
Details surrounding the active shooter situation remain limited. However, the helicopter crash occurred while the DPS aircraft was assisting officers on the ground. The crash is currently under investigation.
Separate Helicopter Crash in Pinal County Claimed Four Lives
In a separate incident, four people died after a helicopter crashed in Pinal County, Arizona, on . The pilot, a 59-year-old man from Queen Creek, and three female family members – a 22-year-old woman and two 21-year-old women – were killed when the helicopter impacted a recreational slackline stretched across Telegraph Canyon.
According to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, the helicopter departed from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek. An eyewitness reported seeing the helicopter strike the slackline before falling into the canyon. Search crews reached the remote crash site approximately four hours after the initial 911 call.
The aircraft involved in the Pinal County crash was identified as an MD 369FF helicopter. Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash.
Slackline Warning Issued Prior to Pinal County Crash
Prior to the Pinal County helicopter crash, a federal aviation notice was issued to pilots warning of a tightrope stretched across a mountainous area of Arizona. The notice indicated the presence of a slackline spanning a significant distance, but it is currently unclear if the pilot of the crashed helicopter received or acknowledged the warning.
The incident raises questions about the safety of erecting recreational slacklines in areas frequented by aircraft. Authorities are likely to review regulations and guidelines regarding such structures in light of this tragedy.
The NTSB will be examining the circumstances surrounding the slackline’s placement and whether it contributed to the crash. The investigation will also focus on the pilot’s actions and any potential mechanical failures that may have played a role.
