BREAKING NEWS: At least 7 killed when medical helicopters collide over Flagstaff, Ariz.

[Pale Blue Dot]

Source: MSNBC

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Two medical helicopters collided in midair Sunday afternoon near an Arizona hospital, killing at least seven people and critically injuring three, a federal official said.

All three people on one of the helicopters were killed in the Flagstaff collision, including a patient and the pilot, said Ian Gregor, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Four others were killed and three critically wounded, Gregor said. He wasn't sure if they were all on the second helicopter or whether some were on the ground.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25446869/

[Skittles]

1. very awful to hear

these folk put their lives on the line to save other people :(

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. Story link here

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g6HZJXqz62cEtqvtmre1oRCneshgD91K2I5O0

7 die as medical helicopters collide over Arizona

9 minutes ago

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A federal aviation spokesman says at least seven people are dead after two medical helicopters collided in mid-air in Arizona.

Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration says three others are in critical condition after the collision Sunday afternoon near a Flagstaff hospital.

He says all three people on one of the choppers were killed. Those victims include a patient and the pilot.

[aikoaiko]

3. That's a terrible tragedy for a great community.

I miss the peaks.

[ben_meyers]

4. We just had one last week up there too

3 hurt in helicopter landing near Prescott.

Three people were injured early Friday morning when a medical helicopter crashed about 30 miles outside of Prescott near Ash Fork.

The Air Evac helicopter crew was flying to pick up a patient near Ash Fork, which is near the junction of Interstate 40 and Arizona 89.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/06/27/20080627n12-0627chopperlanding.html

[Skittles]

7. four killed in Texas earlier this month

:(
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/08/copter.crash.ap/

[Faygo Kid]

5. Awful. So sorry to hear this.

Blessings to the families. Geez.

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

6. What a horrible tragedy

Thoughts go out to the families affected by this disaster.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

8. Is it my imagination, or is this happening more often?

About a year ago, we had a life-flight jet bound for the University of Michigan do a powerdive into the lake just moments after take off, and then a medical helicopter just a few weeks ago went down on the western side of the state.

[MadMaddie]

9. We had the same thing happen here in the Seattle area...

Something is going wrong, these type of accidents are happening more and more.

[drm604]

10. Maybe it's lax FAA enforcement?

It wouldn't surprise me.

[Dogtown]

14. "FAA Spokesman"

Probably caused by an ill-paid, non-union, St. Ronnie certified Air Traffic Controller.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

12. Yes. I remember that one...

I don't know if they're making more flights (hence more crashes) or if something is not right.

[jayfish]

11. Yup, Here In G.R.

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=92943

It would be interesting to know if these are all the same make/model choppers.

Jay

[HCE SuiGeneris]

13. Two news 'copters outside of Phoenix last year as well.