CONSTANTINE, Mich (May 26, 2014) – A pilot and flight nurses with West Michigan Air Care were able to walk away from a hard landing after landing gear and nose gear collapsed while responding to an emergency call on Sunday.
The team was called to an area near Constantine High School to pick up a trauma patient around 10:30 a.m. The pilot was able to effectively shut the helicopter down without any injury to anyone on board.
After the hard landing, the medical crew proceeded to treat the trauma patient they’d been called to help, who was transported to a Kalamazoo area hospital for treatment. Details of the initial emergency weren’t immediately released.
The air crew members were later evaluated and released from the emergency department at Bronson Methodist Hospital. The aircraft was inspected on site and remained on the ground in Constantine overnight until it was relocated to Kalamazoo on Monday for further inspection.
West Michigan’s Air Care’s second helicopter is projected to be placed into service later this week. The air medical rescue team has operated out of Kalamazoo since 1993 and has safely transported more than 10,000 ill and injured patients.
