This is a developing story and will be updated.
Monday, March 13, 2023
Tennessee-based Erlanger hospital system has grounded its medical air transport service while federal investigators look into the cause of Thursday’s crash, according to a statement on their Facebook page. The three injured passengers are at Mission Hospital in stable condition, and a fourth person was evaluated and released, the statement said.
A federal investigation is underway and the health system is suspending operations until crews feel ready to return to service, they said. The hospital says the incident was the first crash in the 34-year history of the LIFE FORCE program.
Friday, March 10, 2023
A medical transport helicopter carrying a patient and three crew members crashed near Burningtown Thursday evening. The helicopter was traveling from an Erlanger medical facility in Murphy to Asheville's Mission Hospital.
One individual was transported to Angel Medical Center for evaluation, and the other three individuals traveled by ambulance to Mission Hospital, according to a Macon County Emergency Services press release. They sustained mild to moderate injuries. Investigators will continue to work through the wreckage and identify a cause of the accident, the press release said.