Helicopter crashes in Arizona mountains, crews working to reach remote site: Authorities

[ad_1] A personal helicopter crashed in a mountain vary exterior Phoenix on Friday, killing all 4 folks aboard, authorities mentioned.

The crash occurred round 11 a.m. native time Friday and concerned an MD 369FF helicopter, in keeping with the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Pinal County Sheriff's Workplace mentioned an eyewitness who referred to as 911 mentioned the helicopter struck a part of a leisure slackline that had been strung up throughout the mountain vary earlier than falling to the underside of the canyon.

Authorities reply to a helicopter crash close to Telegraph Canyon, south of Superior, Arizona, Jan. 2, 2026.

credit score: Pinal County Sheriff's Workplace

Slacklining is an exercise, much like tightrope strolling, that includes balancing on a flat piece of webbing between two anchor factors, in keeping with Slackline U.S.

The identities of the 4 folks on board the helicopter haven't been made public, however the sheriff's workplace mentioned the pilot was a 59-year-old man from Queen Creek and passengers have been three feminine members of the family of their early 20s.

The helicopter had departed from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek, Arizona, positioned west of Superior, in keeping with the sheriff's workplace.

Superior is sort of 70 miles east of Phoenix.

Authorities reply to a helicopter crash close to Telegraph Canyon, south of Superior, Arizona, Jan. 2, 2026.

credit score: Pinal County Sheriff's Workplace

Crews labored for a number of hours to entry the distant crash website, positioned within the mountains close to Telegraph Canyon, south of Superior, Arizona, in keeping with the Pinal County Sheriff's Workplace.

The Nationwide Transportation Security Board and the FAA are investigating the crash.

A brief flight restriction was issued by the FAA over the realm "to supply a protected atmosphere for search and rescue ops," in keeping with the discover.