Two crew members died when an Arizona Department of Public Safety police helicopter crashed on the evening of February 4, 2026, while supporting officers on the ground as they responded to an active shooter incident in Flagstaff, Arizona.
The helicopter went down west of downtown Flagstaff while providing aerial support to local and state law enforcement officers who were involved in a shoot out with a suspect. The pilot and a DPS trooper-paramedic were the only occupants aboard the Bell 407 and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials said the helicopter was operating as part of a coordinated response to an active shooter call when the crash occurred.
Law enforcement officials have not said the aircraft was struck by gunfire, and they emphasized that the cause of the crash remains undetermined. Witnesses in the area reported hearing multiple gunshots before and after the helicopter arrived overhead, followed by a loud crash that shook nearby homes.
Police confirmed that officers on the ground had exchanged gunfire with a suspect prior to the crash. The suspect was later taken into custody, and authorities said no additional injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are participating in the investigation of the helicopter crash, while the Arizona Department of Public Safety is leading the investigation into the shooting itself. Investigators have not released details about the aircraft’s flight profile, altitude, or maneuvers at the time of the accident.
The crash occurred during nighttime operations, adding another layer of complexity to the investigation. Law enforcement helicopters routinely operate at low altitude during tactical responses, often in challenging environments that can include reduced lighting, uneven terrain, and rapidly evolving ground situations.
Authorities stressed that there is currently no evidence linking gunfire to the cause of the crash. Any determination about whether external factors, mechanical issues, or operational considerations played a role will come through the formal investigative process.
Fatal accidents involving law enforcement helicopters are relatively rare, and crashes that occur during active shooter responses draw heightened scrutiny because of the operational demands placed on flight crews. Aviation safety experts note that such missions can involve high workload, coordination with ground units, and the need to maintain situational awareness in dynamic and potentially hostile environments.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety said it would cooperate fully with federal investigators and provide updates as more information becomes available. Officials cautioned that the investigation is in its early stages and that conclusions about the cause of the crash could take months.
