NAHJ Mourns the Loss of Four Killed in Mid-air Copter Crash

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists joins our colleagues of Phoenix stations KNXV ABC 15 and KTVK-TV, Channel 3, in mourning the loss of four staff members killed in a mid-air collision of two of their helicopters while covering a police chase. The collision Friday afternoon caused the news stations’ helicopters to crash in a park, killing all four people on board.

KNXV ABC 15, a station owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, has been a partner in NAHJ’s Parity Project since March 2006. The project seeks to help media companies reach parity between the percentage of Latinos on their news staffs and the proportion of Latinos in their respective local communities. It also seeks to open communication and develop a partnership between the media and the community to iSmprove coverage.

KNXV ABC 15 reported that pilot Craig Smith and photographer Rick Krolak were on board. KTVK-TV, Channel 3, reported that pilot Scott Bowerbank and photographer Jim Cox were on that station’s helicopter. All four were confirmed dead.

We mourn with our colleagues at KTVK-TV, Channel 3, and KNXV ABC 15 and pray for the families of those involved.