On January 17, 2018, a Bell UH-1H Iroquois helicopter of Sapphire Aviation crashed near Raton, New Mexico, United States.

[2][3] The aircraft was flying from Raton Municipal Airport to a site in Folsom, New Mexico.

[4] The Albuquerque Journal reported that the pilot had said that there had been mechanical problems with the helicopter the day before the accident.

[7] The aircraft served with the United States Army (as serial number "67-17658") and saw action during the Vietnam War, it crashed on 31 May 1969 at Firebase Eagles Nest.

Investigators said a low therapeutic amount of an antihistamine was found in his blood but could not say with certainty it contributed to his inability to avoid crashing.