Two Medical Helicopters Collide Sunday In AZ: Seven Lost

Three Others Critical After Accident Near Flagstaff Hospital
Tragic news from Flagstaff, AZ, 130 miles north of Phoenix, as a midair collision involving two medical helicopters occurred Sunday afternoon with at least seven reported lost.

The Associated Press reports all three people aboard one of the helicopters were lost including a patient and the pilot. Four others are reported killed and three critically wounded though there has been no confirmation of they were all on the second helicopter or whether some were on the ground.

According Ian Gregor, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration in Los Angeles, the collision occurred at 1545 local time. Both aircraft were Bell 407 commercial helicopters, one owned by Air Methods of Englewood, CO and the other by Classic Helicopters of Woods Cross, UT.

The collision occurred near Flagstaff Medical Center. Hospital spokeswoman Starla Addair said she did not have any information to release.

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

FMI: www.faa.gov
aero-news.net

Fonte: Flight Safety Information 30/06/2008