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    1. Technology
    2. Drones

    Gluckstadt, MS, Firefighters Challenged at Medevac Chopper Crash Scene

    March 13, 2025
    A drone was used to locate the AirCare helicopter that crashed in a remote area, Gluckstadt firefighters said.

    Gluckstadt firefighters were faced with a myraid of challenges responding to and handling the deadly medevac helicopter crash Monday.

    The AirCare chopper went down about 15 minutes after lifting off from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, killing Carl Wesolowski, the pilot, Jakob Kindt, a critical care paramedic and Dustin Pope, a flight nurse.

    A drone was used to locate the crash scene, three miles from the nearest road, according to WAPT. 

    “It (was) obviously on fire and getting a fire engine back there — fire engines are not technically able to be on dirt roads,” Gluckstadt Training Officer Travis Armstrong told a reporter. 

    Firefighters had to lay 1,300 feet of hose to reach the incident.

    Division Chief Dustin Perry explained there's really no way to train for an incident like the one that happened Monday.

    "...Our guys did a fantastic job of adapting to that situation. "Everybody showed up willing to help. I mean, this is personal for us. This is our EMS brothers and sisters."

    A training exercise that involved a helicopter crew had been planned for Thursday at the fire station. 

    About the Author

    Susan Nicol | News Editor

    Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues. 

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