Pilot, Trooper-Paramedic Killed in Ariz. Police Helicopter Crash
What to know
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An Arizona Department of Public Safety pilot and trooper-paramedic were killed when a police helicopter crashed during shooting response in Flagstaff.
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A shooting suspect suffered injuries that weren't life-threatening and was taken into custody.
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No officers or civilians were injured in the helicopter crash, and the FAA and NTSB will investigate the incident.
Source Officer.com News
Two Arizona Department of Public Safety aircrew members were killed Wednesday night when a police helicopter crashed while responding to an officer-involved shooting.
The crash happened during an active shooting response involving Flagstaff police and other agencies, KPHO-TV reports. A DPS Ranger Helicopter had been deployed to provide aerial support when it went down, killing the pilot and a trooper-paramedic on board.
DPS has not released the identities of the aircrew members or details about what caused the crash. No officers or civilians on the ground were injured during the incident.
The shooting that prompted the response involved a suspect who was shot by police. Authorities said the suspect suffered injuries that weren't life-threatening and was taken into custody.
A nearby resident told KPHO-TV she heard multiple rounds of gunfire beginning around 8:40 p.m., followed by the sound of the helicopter overhead shortly after 10 p.m. She reported hearing a loud crash that shook her home and seeing a fire in the wooded area behind her residence.
The shooting is under investigation. The helicopter crash will be investigated in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.