Superior (US): Four people were killed on Friday when a helicopter crashed in the mountains of Arizona, officials said.

The incident occurred near Telegraph Canyon, roughly 64 miles (103 kilometres) east of Phoenix, at around 11 am local time (approximately 4.30 pm IST), the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office reported on X.

Among those who died were the 59-year-old pilot and three women, two aged 21 and one aged 22. “Our prayers are with the victims and their families,” the sheriff’s office added.

The helicopter had departed from an airport in nearby Queen Creek. Authorities temporarily restricted flights over the area as a safety precaution, the sheriff’s office said.

Recreational slackline may have caused the mishap

Authorities said the crash may have occurred when the helicopter struck a “recreational slackline” over half a mile (more than a kilometre) long, suspended across the mountains.

“An eyewitness who called 911 reported seeing the helicopter strike a portion of the line before falling to the bottom of the canyon,” the sheriff’s office said.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations into the crash.

AP