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7 die as medical helicopters collide over Arizona

I understand the sentiment. The link does not work.

What's with the "Cheers" bit? 7 people just died and a post mit "Cheers"?

I know, too rude, and too this, or that, etc.

Arizona: Two Helicopters Collide In Flagstaff, 130 Miles North Of Phoenix |Sky News|World News

Details still brief at present, condolences to all concerned.

Condolences to all. Link with more details:

FAA: 7 Dead In Medical Copter Collision - Phoenix News Story - KPHO Phoenix

Operators involved are Classic Helicopter/Classic Lifeguard in Page, AZ and Air Methods in Englewood, CO.
I was a passenger with Classic last summer for a photo shoot... if I recall properly they had 2 407's. Anyone have info on the crew? M.S. from Classic?

Thoughts with all.

Air Methods is said to have been the operator of one of the ships.

This is the best info so far

Not good news and little is known at this time.
Time to think of the families.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Two medical helicopters collided Sunday about a half-mile from a northern Arizona hospital, killing six people and critically injuring a nurse, a federal official said. Two emergency workers on the ground were injured after the crash.

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Three of the fatalities were aboard a Bell 407 helicopter operated by Air Methods out of Englewood, Colo. At least one of the dead was the patient.

Three others were killed aboard another Bell 407 helicopter operated by Classic Helicopters of Woods Cross, Utah. A fourth person on that helicopter was critically injured.

Classic Helicopters spokesman Matt Stein said his company's crew was landing at the hospital carrying a patient with a medical emergency from the Grand Canyon's South Rim. Stein said the helicopter's pilot, paramedic and patient all died in the crash. A flight nurse was in critical condition at Flagstaff Medical Center.

"We've been in business 20 years, and these are the first fatalities we've experienced," Stein said. "They were all heroes. They were out doing a great service for their communities."

Stein didn't tell The Associated Press the names of the crash victims, except to say that the pilot for Classic was experienced with over 10,000 hours of flight time. He added that it's rare for two medical helicopters to attempt to land at a hospital at the same time.

Flagstaff Medical Center doesn't have flight controllers, he said, and it's up to the pilots to watch each other as they approach.

"It's just a very unfortunate tragedy," Stein said.

Air Methods officials didn't immediately return calls from the AP on Sunday.

Capt. Mark Johnson, a spokesman for the Flagstaff Fire Department, said the helicopters crashed in a wooded area about a half-mile from Flagstaff Medical Center. The helicopters spread debris across the scene.

"They're not recognizable as helicopters," he said.

Johnson said two emergency workers with a ground ambulance company suffered minor burns in an explosion on one of the aircraft after the crash. The injuries were not life-threatening, he said.

The FAA is sending inspectors to investigate.

The crash started a 10-acre brush fire that authorities were able to extinguish, said Coconino County sheriff's spokesman Gerry Blair.

"We've been in business 20 years, and these are the first fatalities we've experienced," Stein said. "They were all heroes. They were out doing a great service for their communities.":rolleyes:

I believe they were actually getting paid.:oh:

Anyway, condolences to the families, specially the patients' ones.

I served my country 24 years in the military, why not get paid?
Tragic accident :(

Very, very sad news.

Quote:

Flagstaff Medical Center doesn't have flight controllers, he said, and it's up to the pilots to watch each other as they approach.

To whoever made that statement:
Great, mind you don't trip over and hurt yourself, taking those large steps backwards... :mad:

What a Tragic accident i was in page arizona last tuesday on holidays and heard the bell 407 overhead at my hotel . Later heading into the town centre i came accross the 407 landed at a medical facility with the engine still running and stopped to watch it take off . It was full and the landing site looked tricky to get into with electricity cables very closed to the helipad .

Of course they were getting paid, what do you expect people to live on? Handouts from rich daddies?

Some photos from the local newspaper . . .

Arizona Daily Sun photos

Wow... thats not cool, whats the go with med choppers landing, the hospital must know two helicopters are on the way, dont they warn of it?

Apparently their was a Astar crash just out of Flagstaff... Ash fork friday june 27 , apparent brown out but not confirmed

It was a medical helicopter setup also, pilot is said to have avoided blocking the road and attemepted landing on a nearby padock, no fatalities very lucky Not much of the cockpit left, the pilot was able to help the other crew till help arrived

Sad that the sunday 29 june 407 midair had such bad results...:(

Very close proximity of these accidents and days

Unfortunate ending, condolences to the friends and families

Simon

Quote:

I believe they were actually getting paid.:oh:

Was that really necessary?

A great shame. Condolences.

Quote:

"it's up to the pilots to watch each other as they approach."

That sounds dangerous right there.

Very sad :{

Terrible accident. Condolences to the families.

Is there not an air to air radio channel in the states for these aircraft to call our their positions and intended landings and takeoffs when they are outside a control zone?