Four Killed as Helicopter Crashes in Arizona Mountains, Officials Say

Four people were killed when a helicopter crashed in mountainous terrain in Arizona, authorities said, prompting a federal investigation into the cause.

Four people were killed when a helicopter crashed on Friday, January 2, in mountainous terrain in the US state of Arizona, local officials said.

The crash occurred near Telegraph Canyon, about 103 kilometres east of Phoenix, at around 11 a.m., the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement posted on social media platform X.

All four occupants were killed, including the 59-year-old pilot and three young women aged 21, 21 and 22, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities said there were no survivors.

“Our prayers are with the victims and their families,” the sheriff’s office said, adding that emergency crews secured the area shortly after the crash.

The helicopter had taken off from an airport in the nearby town of Queen Creek earlier in the day. Officials did not immediately say what type of helicopter was involved or the purpose of the flight.

Arizona’s rugged terrain and frequent use of helicopters for private, charter and training flights can complicate emergency responses and accident investigations, particularly in remote mountain areas.

Flights over the crash site were temporarily restricted for safety reasons as recovery operations and preliminary assessments were carried out, authorities said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Investigators will examine factors including weather conditions, mechanical performance and flight records as part of the probe, officials said.

Further details are expected once federal investigators complete on-site examinations and notify the victims’ families.

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