FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — A quiet winter night turned into tragedy on February 4 when an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter crashed while helping local police with an active shooter situation, leaving pilot Robert Skankey and a trooper-paramedic dead.
Skankey was a well-known pilot from Kingman, deeply rooted in his community and respected for his service both in the Marines and in local youth programs. Officials say the helicopter, call sign Ranger 56, was dispatched from Kingman to assist Flagstaff officers just after reports of gunfire in a neighborhood north of Historic Route 66.
The night began around 8:30 p.m. when police answered a domestic violence call. While talking to a victim in her front yard, a man opened fire with a semiautomatic rifle, forcing officers into an extended exchange of gunfire. Flagstaff Police Chief Sean Connolly later described the neighborhood as being “under siege” as the suspect moved between rooftops firing at officers and into homes.
Around 10 p.m., Ranger 56 arrived to provide an aerial view of the chaotic scene. Less than a quarter-hour later, the aircraft crashed near Route 66 and Thompson Street, breaking apart and starting a fire that briefly halted nearby train traffic. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have both begun investigating what caused the helicopter to go down. Officials have not yet released a definitive cause.
The shooting suspect was wounded and taken into custody with non-life-threatening injuries. No other civilians or officers on the ground were reported hurt, though residents spoke of hearing dozens of gunshots echoing through their streets and the unsettling boom of the helicopter crash.
In Kingman and across Arizona, tributes poured in for Skankey and his fallen colleague. Friends and neighbors held vigils, lit candles, and shared stories of Skankey’s mentorship, especially with the Kingman Young Marines, and his calm presence in moments of crisis. Many called their loss a stark reminder of the risks first responders take when answering the call of duty.
As investigators sift through debris and piece together what happened that night, families of the victims, law enforcement partners, and the Flagstaff community continue to mourn. The tragedy leaves behind loved ones and a shared sense of gratitude for two lives spent in service and sacrifice.
