Patient Fatally Injured In The Accident, Two Others Critical

A medical helicopter operated by EagleMed went down Tuesday evening resulting in the fatal injury of the patient on board. Two others were critically injured in the accident.

The helicopter went down as it was departing Choctaw Nation Health Care Center about 150 miles southeast of Oklahoma City about 1830 local time, according to a spokeswoman for the hospital. NBC News reports that in a statement, Janet Sharp said that the aircraft lost power on takeoff and caught fire after impacting the ground.

Television station KOKH in Oklahoma City reports that it is the third accident involving an EagleMed aircraft in three years resulting in a fatal injury. A spokesman for the company said that it is fully cooperating with the FAA and NTSB in their investigations.

The station reports that the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) has placed EagleMed's accreditation on hold. Aviation attorney and pilot Ladd Sanger told the station that he thinks the FAA should suspend the company's air carrier certificate.

KOKH reports that several hospitals around the area have cancelled contracts with EagleMed in recent years.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov