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By Khaleda Rahman, Shane Croucher, and John Feng
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Two people were killed in a helicopter crash as officers responded to an active shooter incident in Flagstaff on Wednesday.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) said its helicopter crashed as it was providing "tactical air support" to assist the Flagstaff Police Department and other law enforcement agencies.
"Tragically, during the incident, the helicopter crashed, killing both the pilot and the trooper/paramedic on board. Their identities will not be released at this time," the AZDPS told Newsweek.
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Newsweek contacted the Flagstaff Police Department for comment by email.
The Context
The crash occurred after the Flagstaff Police Department said they were investigating a shooting in the neighborhood north of W Route 66 between Mark Lane and S Thompson Road.
The police department also said there was "no ongoing threat to the public," but advised people to avoid the area.
What To Know
The AZDPS said that prior to the crash officers were "involved in a shooting with the active shooting suspect."
It added that the suspect suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds and had been taken into custody. No other injuries were reported during the incident.
Local resident Amanda Brewer told AZFamily that she heard lots of gunshots both before and after the helicopter came down at around 10 p.m.
"You could hear the blades going," she said. "Then there was a very large crash; it shook the house. It was startling."
Wednesday’s helicopter crash is the latest in a series of aviation incidents in the United States this year.
It comes after a business jet crashed during takeoff during a snowstorm at Bangor International Airport in Maine on January 25, killing all six people on board.
Two days later, a NASA research plane malfunctioned and had to land on a runway without a landing gear. NASA said the crew landed the plane at Ellington Airport in Texas and were "all safe."
What People Are Saying
The AZDPS told Newsweek: "The AZDPS Major Incident Division will be taking the lead in the investigation of the shooting. AZDPS will also be working jointly with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board on the helicopter crash investigation. Further details will be released later."
The Flagstaff Police Department said in a post on X: "There is an active officer involved shooting investigation going on in the neighborhood north of W Route 66 between Mark Ln and S Thompson Rd. Please avoid the area and find an alternative route of travel. There is no ongoing threat to the public."
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Update: 02/05/26 5.20 a.m. ET: This article was updated with a statement from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
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