3 Killed in Medical Helicopter Crash in South Carolina

Three more rescuers lose their lives in their work environment. No details are available to me at this time about the weather. Looking at conditions now and in a timetable fashion, inclimate weather may have been in the area. Four miles and the airport is in site--more than a fair share of pilots have seen the lights on approach and not reached the airport runways safely. Damn shame.... lakothope

GEORGETOWN, S.C. — A medical transport helicopter crashed in coastal South Carolina, killing all three people on board, authorities said Saturday.

The company that owned the helicopter, Addison, Texas-based OmniFlight, said a pilot, flight nurse and paramedic were on board when it crashed Friday night.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators were en route to the scene Saturday. Agency spokesman Peter Knudson says no patients were on board the helicopter, which had dropped off a patient at about 9:35 p.m. Friday in Charleston, about 60 miles southwest of Georgetown County.

In a statement, the company confirmed that the American Eurocopter AS350B2 took off from Charleston around 11 p.m. Friday and was headed to Conway, a city about 50 miles north of Georgetown.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen says the pilot last radioed air traffic control at 11:05 p.m., saying the crew was about four miles from an airport near Charleston and had it in sight.

The helicopter crashed shortly thereafter, at about 11:30 p.m., Knudson said.

"Omniflight is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of its crew members and wishes to express its deepest regrets and sincerest condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives," the company said.