In the aftermath of the tragic helicopter crash in Flagstaff, the Arizona Department of Public Safety has shared details for honoring the lives of pilot Robert Skankey and trooper paramedic Hunter Bennett. Both men lost their lives while on duty earlier this month.
Services for Skankey are scheduled for Friday, February 20, at 11 a.m. This event will take place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 610 Eastern St. in Kingman. Due to limited parking at the church, only vehicles with placards will be permitted. Attendees without placards should park at Hualapai Elementary School, which will also offer additional seating for the service.
Bennett’s funeral is set for Monday, February 23, at 10 a.m. and will be hosted at the Mission Church, 4450 E. Elliot Road in Gilbert. Similar parking restrictions apply, with designated areas for placarded vehicles and limited on-site parking. Off-site parking will be constrained due to another local event.
In order to ensure safety during these events, law enforcement has announced that drones will be deployed for security purposes, and no other drones will be permitted in the vicinity.
For those unable to attend in person, both services will be live streamed on the DPS website.
The fatal incident occurred on February 4, when Skankey and Bennett were providing aerial support to Flagstaff police amidst a neighborhood gun battle. The investigation into the crash is currently underway, with federal officials expecting a preliminary report by early March.
Meanwhile, a grand jury in Coconino County has indicted a man from Flagstaff on 60 felony charges in connection to the shootout and the resultant helicopter crash.
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