Additional Coverage:
Four Dead After Helicopter Strikes “Recreational Slackline” in Arizona Mountains
SUPERIOR, AZ – A tragic helicopter crash in the mountains near Telegraph Canyon on Friday claimed the lives of four family members, including the pilot. The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office reported that preliminary evidence suggests the aircraft struck a “recreational slackline” more than a kilometer long, strung across the mountain range.
Authorities received reports of the crash around 11 a.m. The victims were identified as the 59-year-old pilot, a 22-year-old woman, and two 21-year-old women.
An eyewitness who called 911 stated they saw the helicopter strike a portion of the line before it plummeted to the bottom of the canyon. While recreational slacklining typically involves balancing on a narrow webbing between two points, the sheriff’s office has not released further details about the purpose or authorization of this particular line.
The MD 369FF helicopter had departed from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek, approximately 30 miles west of Superior. Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be investigating the incident.
Superior, a town of approximately 2,400 residents, is situated in a mountainous region roughly 55 miles east of Phoenix.