The safety of medical helicopters is ironically being questioned after two crashed in an eight-hour span on Wednesday, killing a total of three medical personnel. No patients died in the crashes, which occurred in Ventura, Iowa and Seminole, Oklahoma.
These three fatalities continue a disconcerting trend of the last few years. According to CNN, sixteen people died in medical aircraft crashes in 2010, three died in 2011 and an additional three died in 2012.
Officials attribute the danger of these operations to the pressure to quickly respond in various conditions, many of which make it extremely difficult to operate the crafts. Although it is too early to determine the causes of the crashes, a sheriff noted that a blacktop road near one of the crash scenes was covered in ice when he arrived 20 minutes after the crash.
The helicopter that crashed in Iowa was operated by Med-Trans, a Dallas-based company. Med-Trans helicopters were involved in two nonfatal crashes in 2012. The Oklahoma helicopter was operated by Air Methods, which has been involved in 12 other helicopter accidents resulting in 20 deaths since 2007, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
Benny Agosto, Jr. is a partner at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner in Houston, Texas. For over 65 years, Abraham Watkins has successfully represented injured people and families who fall victim to catastrophes. Our attorneys have the knowledge, experience and resources necessary to obtain just compensation their clients. For more information, please contact the office of Benny Agosto, Jr. at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, by letter at 800 Commerce Street, Houston, Texas 77002, or by phone at (713) 222-7211.