Pinal County sheriff’s office said its deputies also responded to the report.
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PHOENIX The pilot and a crew member of a medical helicopter were killed and another crew member was critically injured when their aircraft crashed late on Tuesday in a rugged wilderness area of southeastern Arizona, authorities said.
Officials describe the area of the crash as “very rugged terrain”.
The company that operates the aircraft, Air Methods, said a pilot, paramedic and nurse were aboard.
The DPS helicopter crew saw the survivor signalling with a flashlight, Babeu said. The company has not said which of them died and has not identified them.
A Native Air helicopter first spotted the wreckage at about 8:30 p.m. and an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter located it about a half-hour later, but neither was able to land because of rugged terrain, Babeu said.
“We are deeply saddened by the news that two of our crew members were taken from us, and our hearts go out to their family and loved ones”, the company said in a statement.
On Thursday, all four people aboard a medical helicopter carrying a patient to a hospital in California were killed when it crashed amid heavy rain and fog. Investigators, including at least one from the National Transportation Board Safety, arrived at the scene Wednesday morning.
“Air Methods confirmed that there were two fatal injuries”, the statement said”.
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“At 10:15 last night is when a military aircraft, we believe with the Air Force or the local National Guard, actually extracted the one survivor at that time”. The FAA and the NTSB have our full cooperation as they further investigate the accident.
