A tragic helicopter crash in northern Arizona claimed the lives of a pilot and a trooper-paramedic who were responding to an active shooter situation, authorities said.
In a statement, the Arizona Department of Public Safety confirmed that one of its helicopters went down Wednesday night, February 4, while the crew was assisting law enforcement during an active shooter incident in the Flagstaff area.
“Tragically, during the incident, the helicopter crashed, killing both the pilot and the trooper/paramedic on board,” the department said.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Bell 407 helicopter crashed near Flagstaff at approximately 10:15 p.m. local time. Two people were on board at the time of the crash.
The FAA confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into what caused the aircraft to go down, with the FAA assisting. Officials said the cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Arizona DPS said the identities of the two victims are being withheld for now.
The deadly crash occurred as officers were actively responding to a shooting incident on the ground. Authorities said the suspect involved in the shooting was taken into custody after suffering non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. No other injuries related to the shooting were reported.
“The AZDPS Major Incident Division will be taking the lead in the investigation of the shooting,” the department said. “AZDPS will also be working jointly with the FAA and the NTSB on the helicopter crash investigation.”
Residents in the area described a terrifying scene as the night unfolded.
Amanda Brewer, who lives nearby, told CBS affiliate KTVT that she heard multiple gunshots around 8:40 p.m., followed by the sound of a helicopter overhead later that evening.
“You could hear the blades going,” Brewer said. “Then there was a very large crash. It shook the house. There was a huge fire in the forest behind our home. It was startling.”
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