FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 5, 2023) — A helicopter crash in Flagstaff resulted in the deaths of a pilot and a trooper after a violent standoff involving gunfire on Wednesday night.
Authorities reported that the incident began around 8:30 p.m. when officers responded to a domestic violence call. The suspect opened fire with a semiautomatic rifle, prompting an extended shootout that lasted nearly two hours. The suspect was taken into custody around 10:20 p.m.
Both the pilot and the trooper were providing aerial support when the crash occurred. The pilot had been with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) since May 2021, while the trooper joined in 2022. Their names have not yet been released.
The suspect sustained nonfatal injuries and is being treated at Flagstaff Medical Center. No other injuries were reported to civilians or law enforcement.
The crash site was located a few miles from Route 66, where the Bell 407 helicopter reportedly spread debris near a BNSF Railway line. Train traffic was temporarily halted but resumed Thursday morning.
Investigations are ongoing, with both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) responding to the scene. Four NTSB investigators are set to arrive for further examination.
Emergency alerts were sent out to nearby residents, urging them to stay clear of the area, as multiple police vehicles lined the streets. Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett and local congressional representatives expressed condolences to the families affected.
Michael Hunt, president of the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 32, called the loss “devastating” for the law enforcement community.