‘Systemic safety issues’ found at hospital where grandmother, 87, died after being blown over by downdraft of Coastguard helicopter which left another woman in her 80s with a broken pelvis

An investigation into the death of a grandmother who was blown over by a search and rescue helicopter landing near a hospital has identified “systemic safety issues” with helipads that need to be addressed at a “national level”.

Jean Langan, 87, suffered fatal head injuries at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth in March 2022 when she was blown over by the plane’s downdraft.

The 87-year-old had attended a hospital appointment and was walking with her niece through a car park close to the helipad when she fell after being hit by rain from the HM Coastguard helicopter.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said it happened when the Sikorsky helicopter flew in with a victim from Tintagel. When it landed on the helipad, which was located in a secure area in one of the public car parks, several members of the public were subjected to high levels of rainwater.

Ms Langan suffered serious head injuries and later died, while a second woman in her 80s was treated for a broken pelvis.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said it happened when the Sikorsky helicopter flew in with a victim from Tintagel

The investigation found that the accident was caused by the public not being prevented from being close to the hospital’s helipad when helicopters landed.

A report released today by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said the risks of the helicopter landing ‘were not properly assessed’.

It also found that the danger of helicopters crashing into the parking areas adjacent to the helipad had not been identified and that the risk of potential injury to members of the public had not been properly assessed.

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trusts said it has made ‘immediate changes’ to the operational operation of the helipad to manage the risks following the incident.

The report found that members of the public were not prevented from being present in the area around the hospital’s helipad when it landed, and that communications between helicopter operators and hospital staff were ‘ineffective’.

Several previous incidents and complaints were recorded and investigated at the hospital, but the need to control the risk of water flooding in the parking lot was not identified.

The report also found that there was confusion between the helicopter operators and hospital staff managing the helipad about their respective roles and responsibilities.

It added that staff at Derriford Hospital had ‘insufficient knowledge’ of helicopter operations to safely manage the risk of crash around the site.

The helicopter commander believed that the parking area surrounding the helipad would be secured by hospital staff, but staff only considered the risk of downdraft within the confines of the helipad.

Crispin Orr, Chief Aviation Accident Inspector, said: ‘This was an unusual and distressing accident where an aircraft flying a mission to save lives unfortunately also resulted in the death of an uninvolved person and serious injury to another, who was blown over by high levels of downwash from a landing helicopter.

The incident caused a major emergency response and also left an 80-year-old with a broken pelvis

‘Our in-depth investigation revealed systemic safety issues surrounding the design and operation of hospital helicopter landing sites, which need to be addressed at a national level.

‘Helicopters used for search, rescue and emergency medical services play a vital role, but it is essential that the risks associated with helicopter crashes are understood and properly managed.

‘The research has raised awareness of this issue and has been a catalyst for important safety measures being taken to reduce the immediate risk.

‘In addition, nine recommendations have been made in this report to help improve coordination between aviation and NHS stakeholders to ensure the protection of uninvolved persons from helicopter operations at helicopter hospital landing sites in the UK.’

A spokesperson for University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust said: ‘We are very sorry that this tragic incident has occurred and our condolences go out to Ms Langan’s family and all those affected.

“We supported the AAIB investigation and made immediate changes to the helipad’s operational operation as a result of this incident.

‘We have closed the helipad to aircraft over 5 tonnes such as the Coast Guard helicopter, closed the car park next to the helipad to patients and visitors to reduce the risk of downwash and increase signage in the area.

“These changes were implemented in March 2022 and will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.

‘The AAIB report made a number of national recommendations that will lead to further improvements for hospital helipads across the country and we will work closely with the relevant national bodies to implement these recommendations in Plymouth.’