At Least 2 Dead After Two TV News Choppers Collide, Crash While Covering Car Chase in Phoenix

Fox News ^ | Friday July 27, 2007 | Milwaukee_Guy

[Milwaukee_Guy]

Phoenix — Two helicopters collided in midair and crashed while covering a police pursuit in central Phoenix Friday afternoon, killing at least two people. Both helicopters were news choppers from local television stations.

[HungarianGypsy]

That said, I’m not happy about any of the pilots getting killed.

[donna]

Channel 3:
Scott Bowerbank pilot and Jim Cox

Channel 15
Craig Smith, pilot (and Molly his dog) and Rick Krolak

[donna]

See post 62.

[HOTTIEBOY]

I agree.

The cops would shoot a perp that was pointing a gun at a crowd in a mall. That perp would be taken down by deadly force because he was endangering the lives of others.

Whats the difference between waving a gun at people and driving a car out of control through traffic? They should be shot. Quickly. Do it enough times and the runaways would stop happening.

[mriguy67]

I wonder if the guy who stole the truck was an illegal?

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

uhhhh...I said “shoot the engine” of the car being chased, not the driver/felon. But if the perp has a hostage......put one in him, too!

[Lucky9teen]

I thought Bruce Haffner, since he’s their main helicopter pilot reporter...I am glad to know he’s alright.

I’m not sure who it is, cuz there aren’t any other pilots listed in the bio page of KTVK.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Choppers aren’t supposed to flame and smoke like that.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

So, a chopper (multiple choppers?) is hovering over the two choppers that crashed and taping it?

[prairiebreeze]

Terrible. Prayer lifted for their families.

[webheart]

News anchors reporting on the crash on KTVK appeared emotionally shaken.

Call me evil for thinking (and saying) this, but some of them are probably thinking what a great story this is.

[omega4179]

I think they mean Helo’s

[topher]

I imagine the producers will try to get some high priced viagra commercials on during this to get more cash out of the death of their workers...

I imagine those liberal network executives are busy at trying to cash in on this experience, especially with emotions of the news people reporting the accident...

[BlazingArizona]

We're getting heavy monsoon rains here in Sedona, lightning crashing all around us while we watch Phoenix media's saturation coverage of this event.

Car chases are the American corrida.

[EX52D]

Ah, Sedona. I love it there. :)

[HungarianGypsy]

Call me evil for thinking (and saying) this, but some of them are probably thinking what a great story this is.

I doubt it! It's way too personal in this case. When Patti Kirkpatrick reported for Channel 3 once they went back on the air, she was about to have a breakdown.

[LukeL]

Here in Milwaukee the channel 12 ABC chopper hit a powerline, and crashed on the freeway. Luckly everyone survived.

[donna]

Even the man on the street witnesses are crying.

[dragnet2]

I remember that Francis Gary Powers (of U2 Spy Plane fame) was killed in helicopter crash while doing a traffic report in LA.

That wasn't a mid air collision.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

4 dead. Pilot and photographer for each TV station.

I imagine the survival rate for helo crashes is practically zero. Loss of control = drop from the sky like a rock.