A private helicopter crashed Friday morning in a mountainous area of ??Arizona, leaving four people dead, local and federal authorities reported.

The crash occurred around 11:00 am near Telegraph Canyon, about 60 miles east of Phoenix. The aircraft, an MD 369FF helicopter, crashed to the bottom of a canyon in a difficult-to-access area, according to the Pinal County Sheriff's Office.

Possible Impact with a Recreational Slackline

According to the police report, an eyewitness who called 911 claimed to have seen the helicopter hit a recreational slackline that had been installed along the mountain range before plummeting.

Slacklining is a recreational activity similar to tightrope walking, in which a flat webbing is stretched between two anchor points, usually in natural areas.

The Victims and the Flight Path

Authorities confirmed that the victims included the pilot, a 59-year-old man from Queen Creek, and three young female passengers, two 21-year-olds and one 22-year-old, all from the same area. family. Their identities have not been released.

The helicopter had taken off from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek, a town west of Superior, from where it flew toward the mountainous area where the crash occurred.

Federal investigation investigation

Rescue teams took several hours to reach the crash site on foot due to the remote and rugged terrain. Following the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a temporary flight restriction over the area to facilitate search and recovery efforts.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) opened an investigation to determine the exact causes of the crash.

“Our prayers are with the victims and their families,” The Pinal County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.