Crash, location and fatalities
A private helicopter crashed in a mountainous area of Arizona on Friday, killing all four people aboard, officials said. The crash occurred around 11 a.m. near Telegraph Canyon, about 64 miles (103 kilometers) east of Phoenix.
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on the social platform X that those killed included a 59-year-old pilot and three passengers: two women ages 21 and a woman age 22. The sheriff’s office said the victims’ names had not been released.
Suspected cause and witness account
The sheriff’s office said the crash may have been caused when the helicopter struck a “recreational slackline” that was more than half a mile (more than a kilometer) long and was strung across the mountains. The office said an eyewitness who called 911 reported seeing the helicopter hit a portion of the line before it fell to the bottom of the canyon.
Investigation, access and safety restrictions
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
The helicopter had taken off from an airport in Queen Creek, about 29 miles (47 kilometers) west of the crash location, according to the sheriff’s office. The office said crews took several hours to travel by foot to the remote area where the helicopter crashed, and that flights were temporarily restricted over the area due to safety reasons.
Sheriff’s office statement
“Our prayers are with the victims and their families,” the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said.