Post by cooter on Oct 16, 2008 5:24:43 GMT -5
I was informed of this earlier this morning by people whom I know very well... I worked for Air Angels. I was a Dispatcher and a MICU Critical Care Ground Transports driver. I knew the entire crew. My thoughts and prayers go out the families of the crew and the passenger on board. This bird was a Bell 222 and named "Angel 1".
This basic info below... I know more, but I will NOT tell anything further.... I ask that you pray for these individuals invovled as this is a horrific tragedy and I knew them personally.
4 killed in helicopter crash
Associated Press
4:42 AM CDT, October 16, 2008
AURORA, Ill. - Four people, including a 13-month-old girl, were killed when a medical evacuation helicopter crashed overnight in the Chicago suburb of Aurora, authorities said early Thursday.
The helicopter was headed for Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago from Valley West Hospital in Sandwich when it went down minutes before midnight, said Aurora police spokesman Sgt. Robb Wallers.
Children's Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Julie Pesch initially said the child was being transported to the hospital because of epileptic seizures. She later said the child's symptoms were not clear.
The child was initially headed to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, however there was no room for her there, Pesch said. The helicopter crashed west of Winfield.
Wallers said the helicopter belonged to Air Angels Inc., an emergency medical transport service based at Clow Airport in suburban Bolingbrook. Telephone calls to the Air Angels offices were not answered early Thursday.
However, Air Angels CEO Jim Adams told the Chicago Tribune the helicopter's crew, who he didn't name, included the pilot, nurse and a paramedic employed by the company. He added the helicopter's pilot did not report mechanical problems, and weather was not an issue.
"We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the patient and our crew. Air Angels is working with the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA to investigate the cause of the accident and we will provide more information as it becomes available," Adams said in a statement.
According to Wallers, the helicopter crashed in a field near a residential area in east Aurora and was engulfed in flames. He said police and fire officials learned of the crash around midnight. No one on the ground was hurt.
Investigators of the National Transportation Safety Board were at the scene of the crash, Wallers said.
The Aurora crash is the third involving Air Angels helicopters. In January 2003, an Air Angels helicopter crashed killing the pilot. Investigators determined pilot error and weather caused the accident. Mechanical problems was blamed for an August 2007 crash in which there were no injuries.
This basic info below... I know more, but I will NOT tell anything further.... I ask that you pray for these individuals invovled as this is a horrific tragedy and I knew them personally.
4 killed in helicopter crash
Associated Press
4:42 AM CDT, October 16, 2008
AURORA, Ill. - Four people, including a 13-month-old girl, were killed when a medical evacuation helicopter crashed overnight in the Chicago suburb of Aurora, authorities said early Thursday.
The helicopter was headed for Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago from Valley West Hospital in Sandwich when it went down minutes before midnight, said Aurora police spokesman Sgt. Robb Wallers.
Children's Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Julie Pesch initially said the child was being transported to the hospital because of epileptic seizures. She later said the child's symptoms were not clear.
The child was initially headed to Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, however there was no room for her there, Pesch said. The helicopter crashed west of Winfield.
Wallers said the helicopter belonged to Air Angels Inc., an emergency medical transport service based at Clow Airport in suburban Bolingbrook. Telephone calls to the Air Angels offices were not answered early Thursday.
However, Air Angels CEO Jim Adams told the Chicago Tribune the helicopter's crew, who he didn't name, included the pilot, nurse and a paramedic employed by the company. He added the helicopter's pilot did not report mechanical problems, and weather was not an issue.
"We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the patient and our crew. Air Angels is working with the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA to investigate the cause of the accident and we will provide more information as it becomes available," Adams said in a statement.
According to Wallers, the helicopter crashed in a field near a residential area in east Aurora and was engulfed in flames. He said police and fire officials learned of the crash around midnight. No one on the ground was hurt.
Investigators of the National Transportation Safety Board were at the scene of the crash, Wallers said.
The Aurora crash is the third involving Air Angels helicopters. In January 2003, an Air Angels helicopter crashed killing the pilot. Investigators determined pilot error and weather caused the accident. Mechanical problems was blamed for an August 2007 crash in which there were no injuries.
