Adam Tebben, Steven Fitzgerald.Photo:Facebook
Three people are dead, including two former members of the United States military, after a medical helicopter crashed in Oklahoma.
Air Evac Lifeteam said its Operations Control Center “lost contact” with the Bell 206L3 with call sign N295AE at 11:23 p.m. local time on Saturday,according to a statement from the company.
The crew, which was based out of Weatherford, “was returning to base after completing a patient care transport in Oklahoma City” when contact was lost, AEL said.
AEL hasidentified the victimsas pilot Russell Haslam, flight nurse Adam Tebben and medic Steven Fitzgerald.
The company expressed gratitude to everyone who offered love and support in the wake of the crash. “Russell, Adam and Steven, we miss you so much,” AEL said. “We’ll take it from here.”
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“People loved talking with him,” said Sprabary, who served with Haslam in the army’s 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment. “When you were talking to Russ one-on-one, you knew he was listening and truly cared about what you had to say.”
Fitzgerald was also a military veteran,according to a statement from EMSA Oklahoma, where Fitzgerald worked after serving the country “in Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, and Syria as a U.S. Army Flight Paramedic” before moving on to the Air Evac Lifeteam.
“Steven Fitzgerald was a valued, hard-working team member during his time as an EMSA Paramedic,” the company said. “EMS is a tight knit industry, and we mourn the tragic loss of Steven, Adam, and Russell with our colleagues at Air Evac Lifeteam.”
“The loss of Adam and his flight crew is such a great tragedy to their families, friends, and medical community,” Johnson continued. “May Adam’s legacy live on through those of us who had the honor of knowing and working with him.”
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, according to the AEL.
source: people.com
