Helicopter Bound For Children's Hospital Crashes in Aurora

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Oct 16, 2008 2:15PM

Four people, including a one-year-old baby, were killed when a medical helicopter bound for Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital clipped a WBIG radio tower and crashed in a field in Aurora. Besides the girl, a pilot, nurse, and paramedic were killed by the crash; no one on the ground was injured. The Air Angels copter flight had originated from Valley West Hospital in Sandwich. The helicopter clipped the tower shortly before midnight, but officials are speculating there may have been problems with the flight already because it was flying so low; under normal conditions, the copter should not have been flying low enough to hit the tower (the height of which ranges from 690 to 750 feet, depending on which media outlet's info you believe). Residents of a nearby apartment complex were evacuated for fear of damage from guide wires in the event the damaged tower collapsed.

This is the third Air Angels crash in less than six years (January 2003 and August 2007). In a statement, Air Angels CEO Jim Adams said:

We are deeply saddened to learn that one of our aircraft was involved in a fatal accident early this morning in Aurora, Illinois resulting in the loss of one patient and three crew members. The helicopter was transporting a patient from Sandwich to Chicago when it apparently struck the ground. There were no survivors.

"We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the patient and our crew. Air Angels is working with the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA to investigate the cause of the accident and we will provide more information as it becomes available. Air Angels has more than 10 years experience of community-based, critical care transport experience and has cared for thousands of patients by providing life saving services throughout Illinois, Indiana and surrounding states.

Still image of the WBIG radio tower taken from CBS 2 video