Flagstaff Midair?

[karldotcom]

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.
He wasn't sure whether the other casualties involved any people on the ground. He does not know what caused the collision.

[af5rn]

Just heard this on CNN. They said someone on the ground was killed by a secondary explosion while trying to rescue the crew.

[rdale]

nous55 kfgz 300120
oavfgz

aircraft incident report
national weather service
617 pm mst sun jun 29 2008

to: forensic program manager w/om113
national weather service
c/o noaa message center
silver spring, maryland 20910

info: nws western region aviation meteorologist w/wr1x2

alpha: pilot....... 2 pilots (names unknown)
acft type ... two medical helicopters bell 47`s
reg nmbr.... acft 1 tail #: n407ga, acft 2 tail # n407mj

bravo: location........ approximately 1/4 east of flagstaff
medical center
date............ 06/29/08
incident time ... 2225 utc

charlie: 10 aboard: 7 fatalities 3 critical.

delta: flagstaff airport
metar kflg 292256z 24008kt 210v270 10sm clr 28/m03 a3033 rmk ao2 slp143
t02831033
metar kflg 292156z 32007g14kt 10sm clr 26/m01 a3037 rmk ao2 slp161
t02561011
metar kflg 292056z 29008kt 10sm sct100 25/m02 a3039 rmk ao2 slp172
t02501017 51006
metar kflg 291956z 33012g21kt 10sm clr 27/m02 a3038 rmk ao2 slp173
t02671017

echo:
kflg 291837z 291918 06013kt p6sm few100cb sct120
fm1900 30012kt p6sm sct100cb sct140
tempo 1923 vrb16g27kt bkn080cb
fm0200 vrb03kt p6sm sct100 bkn200

[kd6ecz]

There sure isn't much news posted online about this yet. This article appears to have the most information that I have found so far.

Medical helicopters collide, killing at least 7

(CNN) -- At least seven people died and three were critically injured Sunday when two medical helicopters collided in midair near a hospital in Flagstaff, Arizona, authorities said.

Both helicopters were en route to Flagstaff Medical Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, when they collided around 3:45 p.m., FAA communications manager Ian Gregor said.

At least one person killed in the crash was a patient, according to Gregor.

The patient and two others were aboard a Bell 407 helicopter operated by Air Methods Corp., an air medical service provider, Gregor said.

No further information about the other victims was immediately available.

The other helicopter was also a Bell 407, operated by Classic Helicopter Service of Utah.

The skies in Flagstaff were clear Sunday afternoon, CNN meteorologist Karen Maginnis said.

No one on the ground was injured or killed in the crash, which occurred in a wooded area close to a neighborhood, but two rescue workers were injured by an explosion after the crash, Flagstaff Police Department Sgt. Tom Boughner said.

The collision ignited a 10-acre brush fire that was soon contained, according to fire officials.

"As you can imagine, we've got lots of heaps of metal to go through," said Capt. Mark Johnson of the city's fire department. "It's just difficult right now."

Johnson said there is a helicopter landing pad on the roof of the hospital.

FAA safety inspectors from Phoenix, Arizona, were heading to the scene Sunday, and additional inspectors from Washington were expected to arrive Monday morning.

The National Transportation Safety Board will lead a probe into the crash, Gregor said.

Hospital officials could not provide further information.

Last July, four people died when two news helicopters collided during a car chase near Phoenix.

[rdale]

Nous55 Kfgz 300342 Aaa
Oavfgz

Aircraft Incident Report
National Weather Service
840 Pm Mst Sun Jun 29 2008

To: Forensic Program Manager W/om113
National Weather Service
C/o Noaa Message Center
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

Info: Nws Western Region Aviation Meteorologist W/wr1x2

Alpha: Pilot.......2 Pilots (names Unknown)
Acft Type...two Medical Helicopters Bell B407's
Reg Nmbr....acft 1 Tail #: N407ga, Acft 2 Tail # N407mj

Bravo: Location........1/4 Mile East Of Flagstaff Medical Center,
Mid Air Collision, Wreckage Fell Into Or Near Buffalo Park
Date............06/29/08
Incident Time...2225 Utc

Charlie: 3 And 4 Aboard Each: 6 Fatalities 1 Critical.

Delta: Flagstaff Airport
Metar Kflg 292256z 24008kt 210v270 10sm Clr 28/m03 A3033 Rmk Ao2 Slp143
T02831033
Metar Kflg 292156z 32007g14kt 10sm Clr 26/m01 A3037 Rmk Ao2 Slp161
T02561011
Metar Kflg 292056z 29008kt 10sm Sct100 25/m02 A3039 Rmk Ao2 Slp172
T02501017 51006
Metar Kflg 291956z 33012g21kt 10sm Clr 27/m02 A3038 Rmk Ao2 Slp173
T02671017

[af5rn]

"As you can imagine, we've got lots of heaps of metal to go through," said Capt. Mark Johnson of the city's fire department. "It's just difficult right now."

This must be Captain Johnson's first aircraft incident. The FAA is going to be VERY unhappy with him if he goes digging through those "heaps of metal".

At least they got the helicopter models right in the second report. I'd have been very shocked if those were Bell 47s!