Daijiworld Media Network - Phoenix
Phoenix, Jan 3: Four people, including a 59-year-old pilot and three young women aged 21, 21, and 22, were killed after a helicopter crashed in the rugged mountains near Telegraph Canyon in central Arizona on Friday morning.
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said the private helicopter had departed from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek and went down around 11 a.m., approximately 64 miles east of Phoenix. Authorities confirmed that all occupants died at the scene.
Officials revealed the helicopter struck a kilometre-long slack line strung across the mountain range, causing the crash. Details about the purpose or marking of the line were not immediately released.
“Our prayers are with the victims and their families,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. Temporary flight restrictions were imposed over the area as a safety measure.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are jointly investigating the crash. Telegraph Canyon, known for outdoor recreation, presents challenges for air navigation due to its mountainous terrain.
Authorities said further updates would follow as investigators examine the wreckage and determine the circumstances leading to the fatal incident.