NTSB zeroes in on cause of helicopter crash that killed 2 officers

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on FoxNews.com. The fatal crash of a police helicopter during the pursuit of an active shooter in Arizona last month may have been caused by a mechanical issue, according to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report released Tuesday. Arizona Department of Public Safety trooper-paramedic Hunter Bennett and aviation supervisor pilot Robert Skankey were both killed in the crash on Feb. 4 in Flagstaff. The preliminary NTSB report said there was no evidence that the Bell 407 helicopter, known as Ranger 56, was hit by gunfire. It also stated there were no known issues with the aircraft, citing recent maintenance records. At one point as the helicopter circled above the scene to keep the suspect in sight, the helicopter "began a rapid rotation to the right," according to the report.