Arizona Helicopter Crash: Chopper carrying four crashes near Telegraph Canyon, all killed

A private helicopter crashed in a mountainous area of Arizona on Friday, killing all four people on board, officials said. The incident occurred near Telegraph Canyon, about 64 miles east of Phoenix, and is under investigation by federal authorities, reports AP.

Crash details and possible cause

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said the crash took place around 11 am and may have been caused when the helicopter struck a recreational slackline that was more than half a mile long and strung across the mountains. “An eyewitness who called 911 reported seeing the helicopter strike a portion of the line before falling to the bottom of the canyon,” the sheriff’s office said in a post on social media.


The victims included a 59-year-old pilot, two 21-year-old women and a 22-year-old woman, the sheriff’s office said. The identities of those killed have not been released.


Response and investigation

According to officials, the helicopter had taken off from an airport in Queen Creek, about 29 miles west of the canyon. Due to the remote location, it took emergency crews several hours to reach the crash site on foot. Flights over the area were temporarily restricted for safety reasons, the sheriff’s office said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. “Our prayers are with the victims and their families,” the sheriff’s office said.

(With inputs from agencies)