Three individuals were hospitalized after a medical helicopter crash occurred in a wooded area near a North Carolina airport, according to local authorities.
The helicopter, identified as an AirLink craft, had no patients aboard when it went down Monday night. Novant Health confirmed that the onboard team consisted of a pilot, a critical care registered nurse, and a critical care paramedic.
The team members were taken for medical evaluation and, as of Tuesday evening, they were reported to be in fair condition.
The emergency incident took place at approximately 7:50 p.m. near Wilmington International Airport. The helicopter, a Eurocopter EC-135, was en route from the Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center back to its base at Albert J. Ellis Airport in Richlands, located in Onslow County, as stated by Novant Health.
Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are set to conduct a thorough investigation into the crash.
Novant Health expressed gratitude towards first responders and their own staff for their prompt actions in addressing the incident. In a statement, the health care organization lauded the “compassionate care and swift response” provided during the emergency.
