3 killed when medical helicopter headed to pick up patient crashes in Kentucky

OWENTON, Ky. — Three crew members were killed when a medical helicopter en route to pick up a patient crashed in Kentucky, authorities said.

The crash was reported Monday evening in Owenton near State Highway 22, Kentucky State Police said in a news release. Troopers determined that an Air Evac Lifeteam flight had crashed, killing the three personnel on board. They were identified by police as Gale Alleman, Bethany Aicken and James Welsh.

The Grant County crew was en route to pick up a patient when the crash occurred, the Air Evac Lifeteam said in a statement on social media.

Police are investigating the death and the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the helicopter crash, police said. An NTSB investigator was expected to arrive on the scene Tuesday afternoon, the agency said in a statement. AEL said it would work closely with the FAA and NTSB during the investigation.

“This was a terribly tragic accident and our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of the employees,” AEL said.