Two Killed When Police Helicopter Crashes During Flagstaff Active Shooter Response
Updated (3 articles)
Helicopter Crash Claims Two Law‑Enforcement Crew Members On February 5, 2026, a tactical‑air‑support helicopter went down near Flagstaff around 10 p.m., killing the pilot and a trooper/paramedic aboard, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety [1]. The crash occurred while the aircraft was en route to assist local police during an active‑shooter event. Emergency responders recovered the bodies shortly after the impact.
Aircraft Was Providing Tactical Air Support to Active‑Shooter Incident The helicopter had been dispatched to support the Flagstaff Police Department and other agencies responding to an ongoing shooting in north‑Flagstaff [1]. Officers engaged the gunman earlier, wounding him with non‑fatal gunshot injuries before the crash, and subsequently took the suspect into custody. No additional civilian injuries were reported.
Investigation Led by AZDPS with Federal Partners The Arizona Department of Public Safety’s Major Incident Division will head the crash investigation, working jointly with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board [1]. Officials said the probe will examine mechanical and operational factors, with preliminary findings to be released later. The collaboration reflects standard protocol for aviation accidents involving law‑enforcement assets.
Public Safety Measures and Ongoing Threat Assessment Flagstaff Police posted on X urging residents to avoid the area north of W Route 66 between Mark Lane and S Thompson Rd, emphasizing there is “no ongoing threat to the public” [1]. Alternate routes were recommended while investigators secure the crash site. Authorities continue to monitor the surrounding neighborhoods for any residual hazards.
Crash Occurs Amid Rising U.S. Aviation Accidents This Year The incident adds to a series of U.S. aviation mishaps in 2026, including a business‑jet crash in Bangor, Maine on Jan. 25 that killed six people and a NASA research‑plane emergency landing in Texas due to landing‑gear failure [1]. Analysts note the clustering of such events raises concerns about aviation safety across civilian and governmental fleets.
Timeline
2024 – The U.S. Helicopter Safety Team records 89 helicopter accidents, 13 of them fatal, resulting in 30 deaths and highlighting persistent safety challenges in rotorcraft operations. [3]
Jan 2025 – A Hudson River sightseeing helicopter crashes, killing all passengers and crew, underscoring the hazards of low‑altitude tourism flights. [3]
Jan 2025 – An American Airlines commercial flight collides with a Black Hawk helicopter, causing 67 fatalities and prompting renewed scrutiny of air‑space coordination procedures. [3]
Jan 3, 2026 – An MD 369FF helicopter strikes a recreational slackline stretched across Telegraph Canyon, plunges into the canyon and kills pilot David McCarty, 59, and his three nieces, ages 21‑23; an eyewitness reports seeing the aircraft hit the line before it vanished. [3]
Jan 7, 2026 – Pinal County investigators confirm the slackline spans more than one kilometer, a 911 caller saw the impact, and the NTSB and FAA move wreckage to a secure facility while scheduling a 30‑day investigative report. [1]
Jan 7, 2026 – The International Slackline Association says it is “heartbroken” and notes that “aviation markers” were attached to the line and a NOTAM had been issued to alert pilots. [1]
Jan 7, 2026 – Air‑traffic expert Tim Kiefer warns pilots must manually sift through numerous NOTAMs, many irrelevant, and the Department of Transportation plans to fully replace the legacy NOTAM system by February 2026. [1]
Feb 5, 2026 – An Arizona Department of Public Safety tactical‑air‑support helicopter crashes near Flagstaff while providing aerial support to an active‑shooter response, killing the pilot and a trooper/paramedic. [2]
Feb 5, 2026 – Police arrest the wounded shooter and issue a public safety advisory, stating there is “no ongoing threat to the public” and urging residents to avoid the north‑Flagstaff area between W Route 66, Mark Lane and S Thompson Rd. [2]
Feb 5, 2026 – The AZDPS Major Incident Division leads a joint investigation with the FAA and NTSB, adding to a string of U.S. aviation incidents that includes a Jan 25 business‑jet crash in Bangor, Maine, and a NASA research‑plane emergency landing in Texas. [2]
Feb 2026 (by end of month) – The Department of Transportation expects the new digital NOTAM system to be fully operational, aiming to improve pilot awareness of hazards such as slacklines. [1]
All related articles (3 articles)
External resources (3 links)
- https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/us-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-deploys-brand-new-notice-airmen-system-provide (cited 1 times)