Investigators have arrived at a remote mountain area in east-central Arizona where a medical helicopter crashed, killing two of three crew members.
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The helicopter was returning to Globe from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport when it crashed about 12 miles north of Superior.
Both the medic and pilot were from Gilbert, Arizona, while the nurse was from Mesa, Arizona, authorities said. The flight paramedic is 38-year-old Derek Boehm.
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said that the survivor was found signaling for help.
Air Methods said it was cooperating with the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board as the federal agencies investigate the crash. No names have been released.
The Payson-based Native Air 7 team refused to comment on the accident, but posted a Never Forget photo on their Facebook page.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety told the paper that it was first notified of the crash at about 8 p.m.
A Pinal County Sheriff’s Office helicopter leaves Superior en route to the crash site.
The aircraft, which is owned by Air Methods, had been reported missing around 6 p.m.
“From what I understand it’s in a precarious situation”, he said of the crashed helicopter. The helicopter, which was operated by Native Air, was on its way to Globe, Ariz., when it went down.
Crews were forced to land some distance away before they were able to extract the surviving crew member.
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The DPS helicopter crew saw the survivor signaling with a flashlight, Babeu said.
