Sabino Canyon Helicopter Crash

Helicopter Crash in Sabino Canyon Area Kills One

An air photo helicopter from out of state crashed near Sabino Canyon Thursday.

There were two people on board, the pilot, and a photographer taking pictures of the Tucson area.

It happened around 9:00 Thursday morning in Box Camp Canyon, just East of Sabino Canyon.

The pilot, Brandon Hahaj, directed rescue crews to the crash site.

He apparently hiked to a visible area and used his cell phone to tell rescuers where he was.

Deputy Nicole Feldt with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department told News 4, “He actually was telling the 911 dispatcher, ‘Hey they just passed me, make a u-turn, I’m over here,’ and actually guided them right to where he was by waving his shirt ion the air to them to attract their attention.”

Hahaj stayed overnight Thursday at University Medical Center for observation. We’re told he has non-life threatening injuries.

His passenger did not survive the crash.

Authorities say the chopper is an air photo helicopter and the pair was visiting Sabino Canyon taking aerial pictures when they crashed in Box Camp Canyon.

Trams and hiking trails in Sabino Canyon, a popular recreation area that is part of the Coronado National Forest, were closed temporarily to visitor activity because of the crash.

The canyon was closed last week because of damage caused by runoff from summer storms but had reopened this week.

SOURCE: KVOA