By Leila Merrill
DREXEL HILL, Pa. — A medical helicopter carrying three crew members and an infant patient crashed just before 1 p.m. Tuesday next to the steps of a church in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, NBC Philadelphia reported. None of the people on board had life-threatening injuries, according to emergency officials on the scene.
“It’s an absolute miracle what you see behind me,” Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt said. “No trees or power lines down.”
The infant was being transported from WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital in Chambersburg, Pa. to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, WPVI reported.
The baby was taken to CHOP, and the crew members were transported to Lankenau Medical Center.
A witness said she saw the helicopter attempt a landing before it bounced up and landed on its side.
The Associated Press reported that the Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft was a Eurocopter EC135 medical helicopter. The agency is investigating along with the National Transportation Safety Board.
A spokesman for Air Methods, the air medical emergency transport service that owns the helicopter, said it was part of the LifeNet program based in Hagerstown, Md.
“Our team will cooperate fully with their efforts to assess the cause of this unfortunate accident,” said Air Methods spokesman Doug Flanders.
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WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital released a statement.
“Earlier today, a LifeNet medical helicopter based out of Hagerstown, Md., ... crashed on the way to Philadelphia. Our hearts go out to family and crew on board and we are grateful that early reports indicate the patient and crew survived and that the patient was transported on to the planned hospital by ground transport,” the hospital statement said.
The crash is under investigation.
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