Local News
Pilot with his three nieces killed in helicopter crash in Superior
UPDATE: Four people were killed after a privately owned helicopter crashed in a remote mountainous area east of the Valley late Friday morning, according to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
Authorities identified the pilot as 59-year-old David McCarty of Queen Creek.
The three passengers were his family members: Rachel McCarty, 22; Faith McCarty, 21; and Katelyn Heideman, 21.
All four were pronounced deceased at the scene.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
A man and his three nieces were among those killed in a tragic helicopter crash that occurred in a remote mountainous area east of the Valley late Friday morning.
According to preliminary information, the helicopter struck a slackline, which caused a rotor blade to separate from the aircraft.
Witness accounts indicate the helicopter then inverted before crashing into the mountainside.
Authorities have not yet confirmed these details, as the investigation remains ongoing.
First responders were dispatched to the scene shortly after the crash was reported.
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident occurred around 11 a.m. in the mountains near Telegraph Canyon, south of Superior.
Due to the rugged and difficult terrain, emergency crews have faced significant challenges accessing the crash site, delaying the confirmation of injuries and fatalities during the initial response.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the aircraft involved was an MD 369FF helicopter, commonly known as a Hughes 500, and stated that four people were on board at the time of the crash.
Pinal County deputies further confirmed that the privately owned helicopter had departed from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek earlier that morning.
Once deputies reached the area, they located the wreckage; however, the remote location has complicated recovery and investigative efforts. Out of an abundance of caution, the FAA issued a temporary flight restriction (TFR) over the area to ensure airspace safety during rescue and investigation operations.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are jointly investigating the crash.
The NTSB will lead the investigation and is expected to provide official findings and updates as more information becomes available.
This incident has deeply impacted the community, and authorities have expressed their condolences to the families affected as recovery efforts continue.
Local News
Jasmine Henson and her four children died following a devastating residential fire near Canton in Van Zandt County, Texas
CANTON, Texas — Jasmine Henson and her four children have reportedly died following a devastating residential fire near Canton in Van Zandt County, Texas.
The children were trapped inside the burning home early Wednesday morning, October 21, 2026, and a fourth child who was rescued alive later died at a hospital, according to Van Zandt County Fire Marshal Kevin Palmer.
Henson was also hospitalized after the fire and reportedly later died.
The tragedy has devastated the family and shaken the surrounding community, with neighbors, school officials and local residents mourning the loss of the children and expressing support for surviving relatives.
According to the Van Zandt County Fire Marshal’s Office, multiple fire departments responded at approximately 12:30 a.m. Wednesday to a reported structure fire near County Road 4127 and County Road 4128.
Three occupants reportedly managed to escape the burning structure, but four children remained trapped inside.
The fire was so intense that firefighters reportedly had to breach an exterior wall to enter the home. Once inside, crews found the children, but three had already died from their injuries.
The children were described as a 3-year-old girl, a 5-year-old boy and an 8-year-old boy.
A fourth child, a 10-year-old boy, was found alive and airlifted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas for emergency treatment. Despite medical efforts, the child later died, Fire Marshal Kevin Palmer confirmed, bringing the number of child fatalities to four.
The children’s mother, Jasmine Henson, was also transported by medical helicopter to Parkland Hospital after the fire.
According to the supplied account, a family member said Henson suffered extensive burns and was placed on life support. The later update states that she subsequently died, although an official confirmation of her death and the timing of that update should be verified before publication.
The initial reports also indicated that two other occupants were taken to a hospital as a precaution. Their identities and current medical conditions have not been fully detailed in the information provided.
The reported deaths of Henson and all four children have turned the incident into an especially devastating loss for the family and the Canton community.
The Van Zandt County Peace Officer’s Association reportedly identified the family as the Hensons. The children’s grandfather reportedly serves with the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office.
Neighbors described being awakened by screams and the smell of smoke as the fire unfolded. One neighbor, speaking to CBS19, recalled seeing the children riding their bicycles outside regularly and described them as sweet, well-liked youngsters who had become familiar faces in the neighborhood.
Those memories have added to the heartbreak felt by residents as they come to terms with the loss of four young children and their mother.
Canton Independent School District issued a statement expressing profound sadness over the deaths of students connected to Canton Elementary and Canton Intermediate Schools.
The district extended its condolences to the Henson family, friends, classmates, teachers and everyone affected by the tragedy.
Canton ISD also announced that counselors and support staff would be available on campus in the coming days to help students and employees cope with the loss.
School officials emphasized the importance of compassion, kindness and community support during the difficult period.
A prayer vigil was reportedly held Wednesday at the Van Zandt County Courthouse in Canton, allowing community members to gather, pray and remember those affected by the fire.
The cause of the blaze has not been publicly released. The Van Zandt County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the incident, and officials may provide additional details as the investigation continues.
As the community mourns, attention remains focused on the surviving occupants, the grieving family and the firefighters who entered the burning structure in an effort to save the children.
The deaths of Jasmine Henson and her four children represent an unimaginable loss. Residents are being encouraged to support those affected and keep the family, survivors and first responders in their thoughts as investigators work to determine what caused the fire.