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2 news copters collide over Phoenix; 4 killed
Two local news helicopters crashed in midair early Friday afternoon in central Phoenix. One pilot and one photographer from each aircraft died when the helicopters collided over Steele Indian School Park. The helicopters, as well as those from other stations, were covering a police chase. In the moments before the crash, the pilot from KNXV-TV (Channel 15), Craig Smith, was on the radio with the pilot from KTVK-TV (Channel 3). The inherent danger and periodic confusion of covering a police chase was clear even though you could only hear one side of the radio transmission. Bob Smith of Phoenix was about 100 yards away from the crash having a picnic in the park with his construction workers. "I heard the pop. They (the helicopters) exploded and went down. Debris is all over the park. It's surreal and unbelievable. Black smoke is everywhere." On a clear and warm day, there were many witnesses to the crash and the aftermath when both helicopters were engulfed in flames at the park near Central Avenue and Indian School Road. "It was surreal, it was like watching a movie," Chris Miller, a central Phoenix business operator, told 12 News. Another witness, Amber Eastep, told the station, "The two choppers hit and came down straight. There's 3 TV and then there's 15 and Fox 10 was just behind them. We thought it'd be all three of them (crashing)." The whole incident began around noon. Police were in pursuit of a man they say stole a truck and then rammed into a police car. The television helicopters started covering the incident at some point during the pursuit. The suspect is now holed up in a west Phoenix house on the 2600 block of North 83rd Avenue. More links here. If there is a better heading to file this under, then please re-file. Posted by: ryuge 2007-07-27 |
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