2 killed in medical helicopter crash in Arizona’s Superstition Mountains
Dec 15, 2015, 9:50 PM | Updated: Dec 16, 2015, 12:54 pm
(Facebook Photo)
(Facebook Photo)
A medical helicopter carrying three men crashed in the Superstition Mountains outside of Phoenix on Tuesday, killing two.
The company that operates the aircraft, Air Methods, said a pilot, paramedic and nurse were aboard. Pilot David Schneider, 51, of Gilbert and flight nurse Chad Frary, 38, of Mesa, died, authorities said.
Paramedic Derek Boehm, 38, of Gilbert, who managed to signal a search plane by using a flashlight, was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition.
His condition was upgraded to fair by Wednesday afternoon.
The Native Air 5 chopper went down in the rugged terrain near Sawtooth Ridge, about 12 miles north of Superior. It had left Mesa Gateway Airport, headed for Globe.
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said there hadn’t been a call of distress from the pilot before the crash.
A search-and-rescue team went into the area.
No other details were available.
KTAR’s Jim Cross and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
