Fatal Medical Helicopter Crash in Tennessee: One Dead and Two Critically Injured in Vanderbilt LifeFlight Accident

The Airbus EC130T2 helicopter, manufactured in 2015, was involved in a tragic accident.

Tennessee:

A tragic incident occurred Saturday when a medical helicopter crashed in a field east of Nashville, Tennessee, resulting in one crew member fatality and two others sustaining critical injuries. Fortunately, no patients were aboard the aircraft at the time.

The Vanderbilt LifeFlight helicopter accident happened approximately at 1:45 pm in an area between Lebanon and Gallatin, roughly 22 miles (35 kilometers) east of Nashville, according to the Wilson County Sheriff's Office.

Officials reported that the crash site was located about 12 miles (19 kilometers) south of the Music City Executive Airport and the helicopter's base at the Sumner County Emergency Operations Centre.

The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

The two injured crew members were transported to Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville for treatment, as confirmed in a statement from Vanderbilt LifeFlight. These medical flights typically operate with a three-person crew consisting of a pilot, a paramedic, and a nurse.

"Our hearts and deepest sympathies are with our Vanderbilt LifeFlight colleagues, their families, and loved ones during this difficult time," the organization stated.

According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the helicopter involved was an Airbus EC130T2 that had been manufactured in 2015.

Aviation tracking websites FlightAware and Flightradar24 documented that the helicopter departed from the emergency operations centre at 1:33 pm and was airborne for approximately eight minutes before the crash occurred.