PHOENIX — Two news helicopters collided in midair and crashed while covering a police pursuit in central Phoenix Friday afternoon, killing everyone on both aircraft, police said.
Both helicopters were from local television stations.
KNXV-TV Channel 15 reported that one of the choppers belonged to its station. The other chopper was from KTVK Channel 3 in Phoenix.
There were no survivors on either helicopter, Phoenix police Sgt. Joel Tranter said. At least two people were on each helicopter.
Andy McKinney, assignment editor at Channel 3 in Phoenix confirmed that one of their news helicopters was involved in the crash.
Both helicopters crashed into Steele Indian School Park in Central Phoenix and caught fire.
The helicopters were covering the police pursuit of a work truck. Just before the midair collision, the driver had jumped out of the nearly disabled flatbed pickup and carjacked another truck.
News choppers from other television stations were also in the area.
Channel 3's signal suddenly went black, and within a minute other stations began reporting news of the crash.
The two choppers came down on the grass lawn in front of a boarded up church at the park, site of an old Indian school. Firefighters swarmed to the area as thick black smoke rose from the scene.
Witness Mary Lewis said she was stuck in traffic with her four grandsons and was watching the helicopters, turned to talk to the children, and then saw a fireball in the air when she looked again.
"I looked up and I see this 'boom' and I see one of the helicopters coming down, and I said 'Oh my God,'" Lewis said. she said she went to the crash site to help, but there was nothing she could do.
"It's nothing there," Lewis said. "Just burned up stuff."
Barbara Cochran, president of the Radio-Television News Directors Association in Washington, D.C., said the association didn't track fatalities among helicopter news pilots but that she could not recall another incident of two news choppers colliding while covering a story.
"The news directors at the stations are members of our association, and our heart really goes out to them in a situation like this," she said. "These pilots, they are very professional. They combine the skills of pilots and skills as journalists. It's something that's very, very sad."
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Title: Re: Breaking: News choppers collide over Phoenix while covering chase
Post by: Bruce on August 14, 2007, 07:11:25 PM
I know it's been a couple of weeks since this happened, but I don't check the forum very often. Saturday, August 11, was the memorial service for one of the pilots, Craig Smith, here in Michigan. Both my wife and I have known his parents, Blaine and Aletha since childhood. Needless to say, they are having a hard time over losing their son. This was 'just one of those things', as both pilots were very good and had many hours. From the radio recordings, Craig asked the other helicopter for his position, as he had lost sight of it. I guess it came up under him, so neither pilot had a good view of the other for a few moments. Craig's little dog, Mollie, was at the service and will now reside with Blaine and Aletha. Mollie usuelly flew with Craig, but for some reason was left behind that day. We have lost two great fellow pilots.
Title: Re: Breaking: News choppers collide over Phoenix while covering chase
Post by: Frank N. O. on August 14, 2007, 07:35:54 PM
My condolences
Frank
Title: Re: Breaking: News choppers collide over Phoenix while covering chase
Post by: Fabo on August 15, 2007, 05:47:54 AM
They have been talks that Phoenix sheriff will try to add this to the car hi-jacker on court (sorry couldnt find the term), did this turn to be true (yet)? Info came from one of my friends currently flying in GoodYear with OAT.
As far as I am concerned, he should bear a part of responsibility, maybe not a full punishment for manslaughter, but definitely he could get some harder punishment as usual.
Title: Re: Breaking: News choppers collide over Phoenix while covering chase
Post by: TheSoccerMom on May 09, 2009, 08:35:24 PM
I manged to put that last post in the WRONG place (here)... will find the proper place for it in a bit...
Obviously I hadn't hit the right amount of caffeine this morning when I read that! Sorry for the screw-up!!
::banghead::
::loony::
Title: Re: Breaking: News choppers collide over Phoenix while covering chase
Post by: Ragwing on May 10, 2009, 01:40:11 AM
As far as I am concerned, he should bear a part of responsibility, maybe not a full punishment for manslaughter, but definitely he could get some harder punishment as usual.
The prosecutors have been adding this type of prosecution for the last few years. He will bear part of the responsibility.
Title: Re: Breaking: News choppers collide over Phoenix while covering chase
Post by: G-man on May 10, 2009, 02:01:12 AM
As far as I am concerned, he should bear a part of responsibility, maybe not a full punishment for manslaughter, but definitely he could get some harder punishment as usual.
I have to disagree. His actions, although stupid, bear no relation to the fact that two helicopters collide filming his stupidity.
