PHOENIX, Dec. 16 (UPI) — A medical helicopter with three crew members aboard went down in rugged terrain east of Phoenix. The extent of injuries are unclear.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating what caused the helicopter, operated by Native Air, to crash in the Superstition Mountains. The aircraft was returning to Globe, located about 90 miles from Phoenix.
Christina Brodsly, a spokeswoman for Air Methods Corp., which owns Native Air, said there was conflicting reports about the extent of injuries, adding the company wants to “continue to make sure we have all of the facts correct” before commenting.
“At this time, we can confirm that three crew members — pilot, flight paramedic and flight nurse — were on board the aircraft,” she said. “The FAA and the NTSB have our full cooperation as they further investigate the accident.”
Officials said the crash area was mountainous, making search and rescue operations difficult.
On Dec. 11, four people aboard a SkyLife medical transport helicopter died when the aircraft crashed en route to a hospital in central California. Among those dead is patient Kathryn Brown, a substitute teacher in California.
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