Four Killed in Private Helicopter Crash Near Telegraph Canyon, Arizona
Helicopter Crash Near Phoenix Kills Four
A private helicopter crashed in a mountain range near Telegraph Canyon, south of Superior, Arizona, on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, killing all four people on board, according to authorities.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the crash occurred around 11 a.m. local time and involved an MD 369FF helicopter. The Pinal County Sheriff's Office stated that the helicopter went down in a remote area of the mountains outside Phoenix, near Telegraph Canyon.
Details of the Flight and Those On Board
The Pinal County Sheriff's Office said the helicopter had departed from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek, Arizona. The sheriff's office reported that the pilot was a 59-year-old man from Queen Creek. The three passengers were described by the sheriff's office as his female family members in their early 20s. The identities of the four people on board have not been made public.
An eyewitness who called 911 told the Pinal County Sheriff's Office that the helicopter struck part of a recreational slackline that had been strung up across the mountain range before it fell to the bottom of the canyon. Authorities have not released additional identifying information about the eyewitness.
Response and Recovery Operations
The Pinal County Sheriff's Office reported that crews worked for several hours to access the remote crash site in the mountains near Telegraph Canyon, south of Superior. Superior is located nearly 70 miles east of Phoenix. Authorities released images showing their response to the helicopter crash in the area on Jan. 2, 2026.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary flight restriction over the crash area. According to the FAA notice, the restriction was put in place "to provide a safe environment for search and rescue ops."
Investigations Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the helicopter crash near Telegraph Canyon. Officials have not released further details about the progress of the investigation or any preliminary findings. The confirmed outcome at this time is the death of all four individuals aboard the helicopter.