A private helicopter crashed Friday morning in a mountainous area of the state of Arizonaleaving a balance of four people deadreported local and federal authorities.
The accident occurred around 11:00 am near Telegraph Canyon, about 103 kilometers east of Phoenix. The aircraft, an MD 369FF helicopter, fell to the bottom of a canyon in a difficult-to-access area, according to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.
Possible impact with a recreational tightrope
According to the police report, an eyewitness who called 911 claimed to have seen how The helicopter hit a recreational tightrope—known as a slackline— that had been installed along the mountain range, before falling into the void.
Slacklining is a recreational activity similar to tightrope walking, in which a flat tape stretched between two anchor points is used, usually in natural areas.
The victims and the flight path
Authorities confirmed that among the victims is the pilot, a 59-year-old man from Queen Creek, and three young passengers, two 21 years old and one 22 years old, all belonging to the same family. Their identities have not been disclosed.
The helicopter had taken off from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek, a town west of Superior.from where he took the flight towards the mountainous area where the accident occurred.
Federal investigation underway
It took rescue teams several hours to reach the impact site on foot due to the remote and rugged terrain. Following the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a temporary flight restriction over the area to facilitate search and recovery efforts.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) opened an investigation to determine the exact causes of the accident.
“Our prayers are with the victims and their families,” the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
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