FLAGSTAFF, Arizona (AP) — An Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter responding to assist officers with an active shooter situation crashed, killing both the pilot and a trooper who was a paramedic on board, authorities said.
A Ranger helicopter crew responded to assist the Flagstaff Police Department and other law enforcement agencies on Wednesday night, Sgt. Kameron Lee of the department said in a statement.
“Tragically, during the incident, the helicopter crashed, killing both the pilot and the trooper/paramedic on board,” Lee said.
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The names of the trooper and pilot have not been released.
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.
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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.