In a tragic turn of events, a medical helicopter bound for a patient pick-up met with a fatal crash in Kentucky, resulting in the death of all three crew members on board.
The unfortunate incident took place near state Highway 22 in Owenton, as confirmed by the Kentucky State Police.
According to ABC News, the ill-fated Air Evac Lifeteam flight was identified as the vehicle involved in the crash. The casualties were identified as Gale Alleman, Bethany Aicken, and James Welsh, all members of the Grant County-based crew. The team was in the process of responding to a call for patient pick-up when the tragedy struck.
The Kentucky State Police are spearheading the death investigation, while the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are delving into the specifics of the helicopter crash. The NTSB announced that an investigator was slated to reach the scene by Tuesday afternoon. Air Evac Lifeteam, in a statement, assured their full cooperation with the FAA and NTSB throughout the investigation process.
In a heartfelt message, Air Evac Lifeteam expressed their deep sorrow over the incident, stating, This was a terribly tragic accident, and our deepest sympathies go out to the employees families and friends. The incident underscores the inherent risks faced by emergency responders, even as they strive to save lives in challenging circumstances. The ongoing investigation will hopefully shed light on the cause of the crash and help prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future.
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