Three crew members aboard an AirCare helicopter from the University of Mississippi Medical Center died in a crash in remote Madison County near the Natchez Trace Parkway Monday afternoon.
Those killed were two UMMC medical personnel and a pilot with Med-Trans, which leases the medical center the helicopters, said Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for Health Affairs.
“We suffered a terrible tragedy and a loss,” Woodward said at a news conference Monday afternoon.
“We want to express sadness and support for our AirCare team,” she said. “To see them have to respond to one of their own is beyond words.”
Woodward said the Columbus-based AirCare3, one of four helicopters in the fleet, had just dropped off a patient and refueled for a return trip when it crashed shortly after noon.
Madison County Sheriff Randy Tucker said calls started coming in about 12:40 from citizens reporting. “It’s a tough area to get to,” he said, noting the site is in a wooded area.
“Any time first responders are hurt, it affects us all in the same manner,” he said.
Since the families of those killed have been notified, UMMC is not releasing their names out of respect for their privacy, Woodward said.
Tucker said the Federal Aviation Administration has arrived and the National Transportation Safety Board is en route, and they will handle the investigation.
“We do not know the cause,” Woodward said.
UMMC began its helicopter flight program in 1996. “In the history of our program, this is our first crash,” Woodward said, adding that under other circumstances that would be something worth bragging about.
The site of the crash is in a heavily wooded area south of the Natchez Trace and north of Pipeline Road.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Department, Gluckstadt Fire Department and several other first responders arrived at the scene.
UMMC’s flight program, AirCare, includes helicopters based in Jackson, Meridian, Columbus and Greenwood. The helicopters are used to transport patients to and from UMMC and other hospitals.
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