Three lost in Arkansas helicopter crash

Three crew members onboard an Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter lost their lives 31 August when the aircraft crashed in central Arkansas, US, while en route to collect a patient at a traffic accident site. The 1978-built Bell 206, operated by Air Evac Lifeteam, went down at around 04:00 hrs in hilly terrain. The three onboard, pilot Kenneth Robertson, flight nurse Kenneth Meyer, Jr, and flight paramedic Gayla Gregory, were killed on impact, according to Van Buren County Coroner Dorothy Branscum. Seth Myers, president and chief executive officer of the air ambulance organisation, said: “This is a tragic day for us here at Air Evac Lifeteam. These were members of our family and we are devastated at this loss. One focus at this time is on providing support for the family and friends of these crew members.” He added that the helicopter was equipped with night vision technology. According to reports, a mile-long trail of debris suggests that the Bell 206 came apart in the air. Jennifer Rodi, a National Transportation Safety Board investigator, said the aircraft tail was found to the southwest of the main crash site and the main rotor was found to the north, but stated it was too soon to draw conclusions on the cause of the accident. Air Evac Lifeteam, which is headquarted in West Plains, Missouri, has recently announced plans to expand into Houston, Missouri.