By
Associated Press
.
Published: Sun, September 28, 2008 - 10:23 am
Last Updated: Sun, September 28, 2008 - 5:39 pm
DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. (AP) - Authorities say the pilot of amedical helicopter that crashed in Maryland early today had twice
radioed for help in foggy weather.
Four of the five people on board were killed, including the
pilot.
The medical helicopter was carrying victims of a traffic
accident when it crashed in a suburban Washington park. The sole
survivor, one of the traffic accident victims, is in critical
condition.
It was the deadliest medevac helicopter accident in Maryland
since the State Police began flying those missions nearly 40 years
ago, and the eighth fatal medical helicopter crash in the last 12
months nationwide.
The National EMS Pilots Association says crashes of medical
aircraft have been increasing since the 1990s, in part because it's
a booming business, fueled by the closing of emergency rooms and by
the aging population.
The state-run program in Maryland does not charge for its
services, and was known for its safety record. It has had just
three other fatal helicopter crashes in four decades.
The NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration are
investigating today's crash.
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its a combination of things that contribute to these accidents, high volume use of the equiptment, dangersous scene calls landing in unfamiliar enviorments, the unpredictable weather. when they first got one at south, who also lost the flagship aircraft, i comtemplated joining that crew, but exactly what i mentioned above kept me from it. they are truely life savers. then as now, the first life i wanted to save was my own