Medical Helicopters Collide, Killing Six

(CBS/ AP)  A helicopter ferrying a patient with a medical emergency from the Grand Canyon collided into another chopper carrying a patient near a northern Arizona hospital, leaving six people dead and critically injuring a nurse.

The collision Sunday east of Flagstaff Medical Center was a few hundred yards away from a neighborhood that was spared the falling debris. Officials said they were unable to provide an account of what preceded the crash.

Lawrence Garduno, who lives about a half mile from the crash, said he heard a loud boom that rattled the windows. He drove toward the hospital and stopped to see the burning wreckage. "It kind of scares me," Garduno said. "If this had happened a half mile closer, it could have fallen on our house."

Witnesses said the weather was clear, and neither helicopter seemed to have
mechanical problems, CBS News reports.

An explosion on one of the aircraft after the crash injured two emergency workers who arrived with a ground ambulance company. They suffered minor burns and were spending the night at the hospital, but their injuries were not life-threatening. The crash, about 130 miles north of Phoenix, also sparked a 10-acre brush fire that was contained.

One of the helicopters was operated by Air Methods from Englewood, Colorado, and the other was from Classic Helicopters of Woods Cross, Utah. Both aircraft were Bell 407 models, said Ian Gregor, a spokesman with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Three people on the Air Methods aircraft, including the patient, died. On the Classic helicopter, the pilot, paramedic and patient all died. A flight nurse on the Classic helicopter suffered extensive injuries and was in critical condition at the hospital.

Matt Stein, a program director and lead pilot with Classic Helicopters subsidiary Classic Lifeguard Aeromedical Services in Page, Arizona, said his company's crew was landing at Flagstaff Medical Center carrying a patient with a medical emergency from the Grand Canyon's South Rim.

(AP/ESRI)

"We've been in business 20 years, and these are the first fatalities we've experienced," Stein said. "They were all heroes. They were out doing a great service for their communities."

Stein didn't tell The Associated Press the names of the crash victims, except to say that the pilot for Classic was experienced with more than 10,000 hours of flight time. He added that it's rare for two medical helicopters to attempt to land at a hospital at the same time.

Flagstaff Medical Center doesn't have flight controllers, he said, and it's up to the pilots to watch each other as they approach.

Air Methods officials didn't return calls from The AP on Sunday night.

The helicopters spread debris across the scene. "They're not recognizable as helicopters," said Capt. Mark Johnson, a spokesman for the Flagstaff Fire Department.

The FAA is sending inspectors to investigate.

Hospital officials declined requests to interview the hospital president and the two burn victims.

It was the largest loss of life involving helicopters in Arizona since two news helicopters collided last summer while covering an auto chase near Phoenix, killing all four people on board.

[goshooturslf]

Sorry to say that not all of the people involved here are heros.
Posted by DaVicar2

What the he11 do you know?? No one knows what happened. As you so smugly pointed out, it will take time to figure it out. In the mean time, pilot error or not, what those men and women do makes them ALL heros. What contribution do YOU make to society??? other than to sit around passing judgement without any level of knowledge or insight. Jerk.

[amazedd]

Chopper Mash

[chad55555]

GOD BLESS THEM ALL,GIVING SO MUCH TO HELP OTHERS. THE OPERATORS OF THE CHOPPERS SHOULD PAY MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT IS AROUNG THEM.

[tootall10142]

Although this is a tradgey,a baker will burn his hand a butcher cut a finger,policemen and womoen get shot ,pilots do error and air craft crashes. my heart goes out to these people and thier families when there are so many lost and mis guided that do so much harm.ONLY OUR WARRIORS AND THE GOOD DIE YOUNG.OUR PEOPLES MATARA: THIS IS A GOOD DAY TO DIE.

[oneworldusa]

What a tragedy for the patients and the people who devoted their lives by risking them to save others. God Bless them all and their families.

[commentator8]

Obviously a tragedy for all concerned but medical evacuation is inherently a higher risk activity than ordinary flight. Many, many more are saved than are lost! Just as the sea is less forgiving of errors than the land, the air is less forgiving than the sea. It''s true that it is rare for two aircraft to approach the same hospital at the same time in a small city like Flagstaff but.... Regulations require monitoring of and self announcing on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency in such circumstances. And yes you are required to "See and Avoid" under any circumstance where there is any visiblity available to do so. We''ll see what the NTSB finds to be the unfortunate chain of events that always preceed such occurrences.

[alphaa10-2009]

Aside from the fact the crash graphic under the headline still shows Phoenix, the more important question is why the two choppers were not on the same frequency.

Is this the proactive FAA at work, not wanting to burden industry with petty little matters like passenger safety?

A landing approach is the last time a pilot wants to have to crane his head around, looking for collisions. There are enough other distractions.

A control tower may unnecessary, but at least having everybody on the same frequency is vital.

[zertrat]

Well at least they changed the headline quickly. Nothing like replacing good journalism with quick reaction to criticism.

[hbevis]

guy_hero

How can you justify making comments like you have done?

People are dead. How would you feel if one of your family was killed in this fashion and somebody made this kind of commet?

[zertrat]

Duh, and why does the headline say Phoenix? An insult on top of the tragedy. CBS News, there are cities out west besides the 3 you remember from pop culture.