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In a tragic turn of events, an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter went down while responding to an urgent call involving an active shooter. The crash claimed the lives of both the pilot and a trooper who was also serving as a paramedic, according to state authorities.
The Ranger helicopter crew had been dispatched to provide critical support to the Flagstaff Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies, on Wednesday night. Sgt. Kameron Lee conveyed the devastating news in an official statement, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life.
“Tragically, during the incident, the helicopter crashed, killing both the pilot and the trooper/paramedic on board,” Lee stated, underlining the gravity of the incident.
While the identities of the fallen pilot and trooper have not yet been publicly disclosed, the helicopter involved was identified as a Bell 407, manufactured in 2004. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the crash occurred near Flagstaff around 10:15 p.m., followed by a subsequent fire.
The Bell 407 helicopter crashed near Flagstaff about 10:15 p.m. and there was a fire afterward, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. A search of the registration number showed the helicopter was manufactured in 2004.
KTVK-TV showed a map indicating that the crash happened northeast of the shooting scene.
The FAA said it will assist the National Transportation Safety Board in the crash investigation. An email seeking information was sent to the NTSB early Thursday.
The state Department of Public Safety’s Air Rescue Unit is trained for various high-risk situations, including mountain and water rescues.
The suspect in the shooting suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds and was taken into custody, Lee said. No one else was injured.