Deadly medical helicopter crash in Oklahoma City

A medical helicopter is seen after crashing in Oklahoma City Feb. 22, 2013. / KWTV-TV

Updated at 10:45 a.m. ET

OKLAHOMA CITY Two people are dead and a third is critically injured after a medical helicopter crashed Friday morning between two buildings in Oklahoma City, CBS Oklahoma City affiliate KWTV-TV reports.

The crash happened around 5:45 a.m. Mark Woodard with the Oklahoma City Fire Department said the EagleMed helicopter, an AS350, was leaving Baptist Hospital and returning to its home base in Watonga, Okla., when it crashed.

Neighbors heard a loud explosion and immediately called 911. Drivers in the area reported seeing smoke and flames just after the chopper went down.

(Scroll down to watch a report from KWTV-TV)

The helicopter crashed between St. Ann's Retirement Center and St. Ann's Nursing Home. The copter did not hit any buildings, and no one in those centers was hurt.

Three crew members were on board. Two were killed in the crash. Three nurses from St. Ann's Nursing Home rushed to help. They, along with several people passing by, pulled a third crew member from the wreckage just before an explosion. The third crew member has been hospitalized in critical condition.

KWTV-TV has also learned one person on the ground was hurt while trying to help that lone survivor. That person's condition is not known.

Investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board have arrived at the site and are inspecting the wreckage.

This is the second fatal EagleMed crash within three years. In July 2010, an EagleMed helicopter crashed in Kingfisher County, killing pilot Al Harrison and flight nurse Ryan Duke. Another crew member, Mike Eccard, survived the crash.

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[Goose5499]

WENORRIS- It is your opinion that i'm wrong? Anytime someone talks about how long they've been doing something as "proof" over evidence and reason you have to wonder if they've been learning anything over 30 years or just repeating the same year over and over again. If you truly think i'm wrong than you must be management for one of the companies i'm talking about. Lead Base Pilot i'm guessing? I just now returned from a flight where we flew an hour to pick someone up with unspecified abdominal pain to fly them 1.5hrs back to where their doctor was. Why a medical helicopter for a person that could go in their own car you ask? He was a member... and he walked to the helicopter... I haven't a clue what this accident was caused by but it is the fourth serious HEMS crash in less than four months. Maybe it's time the people that have been doing this for 30 years take a step back and rethink the way you do business.

[NrMech]

Goose5499 nailed it. It's all about the money.

[Goose5499]

The problem is private for profit companies with stocks and investors that move into an area just to try to make money and not because there is a need. They operate on the lowest budget possible. They force everyone, including the non-profits to accept as many flights as possible, they do membership programs to fly as many people as possible (regardless of the need), and lower the bar for the entire industry. No one wants to say anything bad following an event like this but we have to face reality. There are way too many EMS helicopters and there's just no need for these companies coming and making this a game. You wouldn't want for-profit firefighters coming and trying to compete for fires against city services. Medivac helicopters transport people all the time that don't need a helicopter. They have to take the patient because if they say no, they'll call another helicopter service and continue to call that service in the future instead. It's simple, turn down a flight and turn down your job. We have to put an end this. Medivac helicopters have to be for the critically sick and injured only. There is no room for competition in helicopter EMS just like there is no room for competition in Fire or the Police. Just like fire/police it's too dangerous to allow for this.

[wenorris]

So many experts and so little knowledge. Hardly ever does any of this have to do with an aircraft accident (30years experience in aviation). What's yours?

[NrMech]

Goose5499 is right on. It's all about the money.

[ChadTeetzen]

..

[Jmpnjackflash]

EMS helicopters are statistically the most accident prone sector of commercial aviation., by far. They shoud be avoided unless they are a last resort.

[Natb1965]

As an Nurse, trauma certified, in a rural community without a Level 1 trauma unit, I am thankful for that life flight, be it in a helicoptor or fixed wing aircraft. Are those flights expensive, yes! Are they as safe as an ambulance, Yes! The choice between ground transport versus air transport is not as cut and dry as most think. We always try ground transport first, if: a)the patient's condition warrents ground transport and, b) Is there a ground unit available.
Don't be so quick to make judgements!