FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) – Authorities are set to provide additional information regarding a tragic helicopter crash involving Arizona law enforcement, which resulted in the death of the pilot and a trooper on board. The incident occurred during a shootout with a domestic violence suspect in Flagstaff on the night of February 4 to 5, 2026.
The suspect, whose identity has yet to be disclosed, initiated gunfire on law enforcement officers from several rooftops over a duration of nearly two hours. The confrontation erupted shortly after 8:30 p.m. when officers responded to a domestic violence report. Flagstaff Police Chief Sean Connolly detailed the sequence of events during a news conference on Thursday, noting that as officers attended to the victim located in the front yard, the suspect began firing from the rear of the residence using a semiautomatic long rifle.
A lengthy and volatile gunfight ensued, described by Chief Connolly as an “under siege” situation. The suspect engaged in maneuvers, “hopping from roof to roof” while unleashing a barrage of gunfire at the officers, who returned fire. It was reported that three officers from the Flagstaff Police Department and one employee from the Department of Public Safety discharged their weapons during this dangerous altercation.
Tragically, the helicopter crash happened amidst the chaos. Pilot Robert Skanky, a resident of Kingman, Arizona, was identified as one of the fatalities in the incident. Skanky was employed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety since May 2021 and had a prior military background, serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for a decade. The identity of the trooper, who also served as a paramedic, has not yet been released; however, it was confirmed that he joined the Department of Public Safety in 2022.
Following the crash, the suspect was apprehended and subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment of nonfatal gunshot wounds. Authorities have classified the helicopter crash as an accident, although the specific cause remains unclear at this time. The ongoing investigation aims to shed light on the sequence of events leading up to this incident and the operational decisions made by law enforcement during the tense standoff.
As the community and officials grapple with the aftermath of this tragic event, further updates are expected to be disclosed by authorities on Friday, potentially providing more clarity on the developments of the case and the circumstances surrounding the law enforcement response.
