Skip to content

Facebook Instagram Linkedin X-twitter Youtube

About Us
Contact Us
Advertisement

About Us
Contact Us
Advertisement

Aviation Newsletter

WhatsApp Channel

Search

Latest News
Aviation Today Perspectives
Aviation Jobs
About Us

Latest News
Aviation Today Perspectives
Aviation Jobs
About Us

Search

Latest News
Aviation Today Perspectives
Aviation Jobs
About Us

Latest News
Aviation Today Perspectives
Aviation Jobs
About Us

News

Civil Aviation

Pilot Training

Flight School Analysis

Aviation Jobs

Training

Services

About Us

Contact Us

Search

helicopter crash latest

Arizona, United States: A helicopter crash in remote terrain east of Phoenix claimed the lives of a seasoned Oregon pilot and his three young nieces on Jan. 2, 2026, just hours before he was scheduled to be married, authorities and family members said. The MD 369FF helicopter, piloted by 59-year-old David McCarty, crashed into rugged terrain in Telegraph Canyon, near Superior in Pinal County at around 11 a.m. local time, killing all four occupants. Family members said McCarty, originally from Oregon and a long-time resident of Queen Creek, Arizona, had taken his nieces Rachel McCarty (22), Faith McCarty (21) and Katelyn Heideman (21) on a sightseeing flight before his planned wedding later that afternoon. The bride-to-be, McCarty’s fiancée Joelleen Linstrom, was not aboard. According to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, an eyewitness called 911 after seeing the helicopter strike what preliminary reports describe as a recreational slackline stretched across the canyon before it fell to the canyon floor. Deputies and rescue teams hiked into the remote area and reached the wreckage around 5 p.m. several hours after the crash. All four were pronounced dead at the scene. Local family members posted tributes on social media, describing the losses as devastating. “Many have heard about the unimaginable losses in my family. They went out for a helicopter ride in Arizona. The helicopter crashed and they never got the chance to come home,” wrote Elizabeth Gallup, a relative of the victims. McCarty was the founder and owner of Columbia Basin Helicopters, a firm based in La Grande, Oregon, with work in aerial support for power-line construction, logging, firefighting and recovery operations. Family and colleagues described him as an experienced pilot familiar with the area’s terrain, having flown similar routes multiple times. The helicopter departed from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek before entering the mountainous landscape south of Superior, according to local reports. Preliminary investigation indicates the helicopter may have collided with a recreational slackline, more than half a mile long, strung across the canyon. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), along with the sheriff’s office, are jointly investigating the incident to determine how the slackline came to be placed in that airspace and whether proper aviation safety protocols were followed. The International Slackline Association confirmed the slackline had aviation markers and that a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) had been issued to warn aviators of the obstruction before the crash. No slackliners were on the line at the time of the accident. Officials said investigators will gather flight records, radar data, maintenance logs, weather information, witness statements and other evidence as part of the formal NTSB investigation. A spokesperson for the NTSB has stated that the agency will lead the effort to determine the probable cause. The FAA and other agencies have urged pilots flying in rugged and remote environments to review all Notices to Air Missions and to exercise heightened caution when navigating below canyon rims and near known obstructions.

Helicopter Crash

Oregon Pilot And Three Nieces Killed In Arizona Helicopter Crash Hours Before Wedding

Aviation Today News Desk / January 5, 2026

Arizona, United States: A helicopter crash in remote terrain east of Phoenix claimed the lives of a seasoned Oregon pilot […]

New Jersey, United States: A mid-air collision between two helicopters over Hammonton Municipal Airport in southern New Jersey on Sunday resulted in one fatality and one critically injured pilot, officials confirmed as emergency crews continued their response and federal investigators prepared to launch a full inquiry. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) characterized the incident as a mid-air collision between an Enstrom F-28A helicopter and an Enstrom 280C helicopter near the Hammonton Municipal Airport at approximately 11:25 a.m. local time on December 28, 2025. Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said first responders were dispatched following reports of an aviation crash. Video from the scene showed one helicopter spiraling rapidly to the ground before impact, prompting immediate deployment of police, fire and medical units. Fire crews extinguished flames on one of the aircraft. One pilot was pronounced dead at the scene, while the second pilot was transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to police and fire officials. Authorities have not yet released the names of those involved. The collision occurred in clear weather conditions and was witnessed by local residents, some of whom captured footage showing both helicopters in distress moments before impact. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a joint investigation to determine the sequence of events leading to the crash. Early investigative focus is expected to examine flight paths, pilot communications, and whether both aircraft operated under visual flight rules. A preliminary report may be released within days, though a final probable cause determination could take months. Hammonton, a community of about 15,000 in Atlantic County, lies roughly 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia and is home to general aviation activity at the municipal airport. Several witnesses near the crash site described hearing a loud noise followed by the sudden descent of the aircraft. Local café owner Sal Silipino, familiar with the pilots, said they were regular patrons who often flew together. “It was shocking. I’m still shaking after that happened,” one resident told reporters. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the crash area to allow emergency crews and investigators unobstructed access to the scene. Further updates, including official preliminary findings from the NTSB, are expected as the investigation progresses.

Helicopter Crash

Mid-Air Helicopter Collision In New Jersey Leaves One Dead, One Critically Injured

Aviation Today News Desk / December 29, 2025

New Jersey, United States: A mid-air collision between two helicopters over Hammonton Municipal Airport in southern New Jersey on Sunday

Follow Us

Facebook-f Instagram Linkedin-in X-twitter Youtube

AVIATION TODAY brings the latest in aviation and aims to cater information to professionals and Aviation Enthusiasts about the Industry.

Quick Links

About Us
Contact Us
Services
Advertise
FAQ

Navigate

Latest News
Civil Aviation
Pilot Training
Flight School Analysis
Aviation Jobs
Training

General Support

info@aviationtoday.in

News Desk Support

news@aviationtoday.in

Follow Us

Facebook-f Instagram Linkedin-in X-twitter Youtube

© Copyright 2026 Aviation Today. All rights reserved.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Disclaimer

Search

About Us
Latest News
Aviation Today Perspectives
Aviation Jobs
Contact Us
Advertisement

Aviation Newsletter

Facebook Instagram Linkedin X-twitter Youtube