The BareStory
An Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) helicopter crashed Wednesday night in Flagstaff, Arizona, while providing tactical air support during a police response to an active shooting. Authorities confirmed that the pilot and a trooper-paramedic on board were killed in the incident.
Prior to the crash, law enforcement officers on the ground exchanged gunfire with a suspect. Police stated the suspect was wounded and subsequently taken into custody. Officials reported no other injuries at the scene of the shooting.
An area resident described hearing gunshots starting around 8:40 p.m., followed later by the sound of the helicopter and additional gunfire. The witness reported hearing the helicopter’s blades before a heavy crash shook her home. Following the incident, Flagstaff police issued a shelter-in-place order for a local neighborhood at approximately 10:15 p.m.
Two separate investigations have been launched. The AZDPS Major Incident Division will lead the inquiry into the officer-involved shooting, while the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will work with state authorities to determine the cause of the helicopter crash.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• Residents in the Flagstaff area faced immediate safety disruptions, including a shelter-in-place order and exposure to gunfire and a crash that shook local homes.
• The incident demonstrates the high risks involved in police tactical air support, which resulted in the loss of a pilot and trooper-paramedic while successfully apprehending a suspect to prevent further harm.
• You can expect future findings from separate federal and state inquiries as the FAA and NTSB investigate the cause of the helicopter crash distinct from the review of the officer-involved shooting.
