A tragic crash in northern Arizona claimed the lives of two members of the Arizona Department of Public Safety late Wednesday night, after their helicopter went down while assisting police during a violent standoff in Flagstaff.
Authorities said the Bell 407 helicopter, part of the state’s air rescue and tactical operations unit, crashed around 10:15 p.m. near the Flagstaff area. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed a fire broke out following impact.
The two victims — the pilot and a trooper who also served as a paramedic — were en route to provide air support for officers responding to an active shooter. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Governor Katie Hobbs expressed condolences in a public statement, calling the tragedy “a heartbreaking loss for Arizona’s public safety community.” She praised the crew’s “bravery and commitment to protecting others,” offering support to their families and colleagues.
While the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 32 has not yet released the victims’ names, the group shared that the trooper joined DPS in June 2022, and the pilot — a Marine Corps veteran — had been with the agency since May 2021.
“This is a devastating moment for the DPS family,” said FOP Lodge 32 President Michael Hunt. “Both crew members gave their lives in service to others, and their sacrifice will not be forgotten.”
The helicopter was assisting Flagstaff Police Department officers who had responded to a domestic violence call around 8:30 p.m. According to Chief Sean Connolly, the suspect, armed with a long rifle, opened fire on both the victim and police, moving between rooftops for nearly two hours in a neighborhood north of Route 66.
The helicopter was providing critical aerial surveillance as ground officers sought cover. Around the time of the crash, the suspect was struck by gunfire and taken into custody with non-life-threatening injuries.
It remains unclear what caused the aircraft to go down. The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA have joined DPS in investigating both the crash and the related shooting incident.
Authorities are expected to release further details as the investigation continues.
