‘HEARTBROKEN’

Medical Helicopter Crash Kills Pilot and Two Hospital Workers

The staff of a Mississippi medical center are mourning the loss of three colleagues.

A helicopter crash in Mississippi on Monday claimed the lives of a pilot and two hospital workers, the Associated Press reported. The medical transport helicopter was returning to Columbus from a patient transport mission when it went down in Madison County around 12:30 p.m. “The entire Medical Center family is heartbroken over this,” Dr. LouAnn Woodward, the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s vice chancellor for health affairs, told a news conference. The crash marks the first incident in the 29-year history of AirCare emergency services. The cause is unknown, but the FAA and other authorities are investigating. While the families of the victims have been notified, names remain undisclosed to protect privacy. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves paid tribute on Facebook, highlighting the sacrifice of the state’s first responders: “It’s a tragic reminder of the risks Mississippi’s first responders take every day to keep us safe. Our state will never forget the sacrifice of these heroes.”

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