FLAGSTAFF — It was the Department of Public Safety (DPS) Kingman-based Air Rescue helicopter that crashed late Wednesday night in Flagstaff, resulting in the death of the pilot and a State Trooper paramedic. DPS confirmed the Bell 407 Ranger 56 was dispatched from Kingman to assist during an active shooter incident.
DPS spokesman Bart Graves said the names of the deceased would not be released until possibly Friday, Feb. 6. Marine Corps, family and other sources confirm the pilot was Robert Skankey, well known in Kingman for his family, church, law enforcement and Young Marine program involvements.
Skankey was well respected in Kingman for a broad range of community involvements. He helped establish the local Young Marines program and served as its Unit Commander for 10 years, assisted in the process by local Marine Corps League Senior Vice Commandant Terry Flanagan.
“He loved kids, he loved his church. He loved his faith very much and he loved the Marine Corps,” Flanagan said Thursday morning.
Flanagan said the retired Marine Lt. Col. had been assigned for a few years to the helicopter that would transport President George W. Bush from the White House lawn to Andrews Air Force Base where Bush would board Airforce 1. He said Skankey had plenty of whimsical stories about that detail.
Flanagan said Skankey later flew patient transport medical missions in the private sector before he signed on with DPS to fly Ranger 56, a Bell 407 helicopter stationed at Kingman Regional Medical Center.
Flanagan said Skankey took a big pay cut to fly for DPS, but that he was passionate about helping people with law enforcement support and search and rescue missions. Flanagan said Skanky led a successful rescue just days before his death.
“He had just one out with his crew and found some missing hikers and that made him feel so good because, besides chasing bad guys, which he learned to like, he would find missing people and missing kids. And that’s what he did.
The versatile Skankey was an accomplished runner and a gifted musician.
“He was an amazing, amazing person,” one family member said. “He was an incredible community advocate.”
Mayor Ken Watkins and the City of Kingman extended condolences through a press release that said his presence and service were deeply rooted in the community.
“He will be remembered for his dedication, compassion, and the quiet but meaningful impact he had on those around him,” the release said. “This is an incredibly profound loss for our community and the state of Arizona.”
That a second local officer died when the Kingman-based DPS Western Air Rescue helicopter crashed in Flagstaff was revealed at a Friday morning news conference in Phoenix. DPS Director Col. Jeffrey Glover identified the second victim as Hunter Bennett, 26, Kingman.
“I extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those that we lost,” Glover said outside DPS headquarters. “No words can adequately express the sorrow that we feel.”
While Skankey’s distinguished career had been outlined in press accounts prior to the news conference, Glover provided background information introducing the public to Bennett.
“Hunter began his career with the Arizona Department of Public Safety on June 11, 2022 as a cadet state trooper,” Glover said while detailing his impeccable academic and service credentials. Bennett was assigned to the Western Air Rescue unit in April 2024 and he married his high school sweetheart in Hawaii six months later.
Glover said DPS personnel will carry on in memory of Skankey and Bennett.
“We mourn and we remember and we recommit ourselves in honoring these lives through integrity, accountability and continued service to our public,” he said.
Reporters asked questions about the age and condition of the Bell 407 Ranger helicopter. Glover responded that the helicopter passed a routine inspection on Jan. 29, just days before the crash.
“The cause of the helicopter crash remains under active investigation by the NTSB, multiple agencies including the DPS Major incident division,” Glover said. “The FAA and NTSB are working to determine exactly what occurred. At this stage it would be inappropriate and irresponsible to speculate.”
