Sheriff: Survivor of medical copter crash signaled searchers

It had left Mesa Gateway Airport, headed for Globe.

A Pinal County Sheriff’s Office helicopter leaves Superior en route to the crash site.

Officials say a medical helicopter with three people on board crashed in “rugged terrain” east of Phoenix late Tuesday night. “This is a very rugged scene on the side of what is described as a rugged cliff or a mountainside and we do have personnel on scene”, he said.

The Native Air helicopter crashed Tuesday evening in east-central Arizona, about 12 miles north of Superior as it flew from Mesa to Globe. The crew member was rescued by a military aircraft about 10:15 p.m. Flight paramedic Derek Boehm, 38, of Gilbert, was taken to a trauma center in Phoenix and is listed in fair condition.

Air Methods said it was giving the FAA and the NTSB “full cooperation” as they further investigate the accident.

Babeu said the survivor signaled rescue crews with a “flashlight device”.

KPHO says Air Methods, which owns the helicopter, issued a statement Tuesday night saying, “Native Air (Ambulance) reported that an accident involving an AS350 B3 occurred Tuesday, Dec. 15 near Apache Junction”.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said that the survivor was found signaling for help.

Air Methods, which owns the company operating the aircraft, says the chopper was carrying a pilot, a paramedic and a nurse; no names were released.

A third crew member is safe, the aircraft company said early Wednesday without elaborating.

The crash scene was sealed off overnight to preserve evidence before National Transportation Board Safety investigators arrive later Wednesday, Babeu said. “We will be back in touch with you once we have more information.” .