Medical helicopters collide, killing at least 6 – CNN.com
Medical helicopters collide, killing at least 6
- Story Highlights
- NEW: Six killed includes one patient; one critically injured
- Collision sets fire to 10-acre area near Arizona’s Flagstaff Medical Center
- “We’ve got lots of heaps of metal to go through,” fire captain says
(CNN) — At least six people were dead and one critically injured Sunday after a midair crash between two medical helicopters near a hospital in Arizona, authorities said.
The collision, at Flagstaff Medical Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, set fire to a 10-acre area, according to fire officials, and another two rescue workers were injured by a secondary explosion after the crash.
The helicopters collided at roughly 3:45 p.m. local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Heartbreaking.
That is very sad. We just had a medical helicopter crash in La Crosse Wisconsin recently. The pilot, a doctor, a nurse and later, the patient they were trying to save, all died. They were flying at night in a wooded area, but I don’t think there’s been a confirmation of what caused the crash.
Rest in peace.
Now we should morn the victims. Soon we need to ask some hard questions such about the utilization and rapid growth of medical helicopters. Is it necessary? Is this transport necessary or can the patient be served as well with a ground transport? Does the risk justify the benefit? Does competition amongst the large number of helicopters in an area contribute to pilots taking unnecessary risks? I am in the central California area. 15 years ago there were 2-3 medical helicopters in my area and a couple of others from law enforcement that served a duel enforcement and medivac role. Today there are 15 medical or medivac helicopters available within 30 – 45 minutes of the hospital I work at. I doubt my area is unique
That is tragic.