On the night of January 20, 2024, a tragic helicopter accident occurred near Hydro, Oklahoma. An Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter crashed, leading to the deaths of all three crew members onboard.
The crash happened when the medical team was heading back to their base in Weatherford, Oklahoma, about 70 miles west of Oklahoma City. The team had completed a patient transport mission to Mercy Hospital located in the state capital.
Lost in the crash were former US Army special operations pilot Russell Haslam, paramedic Steven Fitzgerald, and nurse Adam Tebben.
The Air Evac Lifeteam Operations Control Center reported the incident after losing communication with the Bell 206L3 helicopter around 11:25 p.m.
Following the loss of contact, search efforts were initiated involving law enforcement and additional Air Evac Lifeteam personnel. This led to the discovery of the crash site, where the three crew members were found and pronounced dead at the scene.
Air Evac Lifeteam, based in O’Fallon, Missouri, is a leading provider of emergency medical services (EMS) and air ambulance services. The company operates helicopters from over 140 bases across 15 states, primarily in the central and southern regions of the United States. The standard team consists of a pilot, a flight paramedic, and a flight nurse.
In a public statement released on social media, Air Evac Lifeteam expressed deep sorrow over the loss of its team members. The company stated its commitment to supporting the affected families and staff members in dealing with the aftermath of the tragedy by deploying Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) teams.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated a thorough investigation into the crash involving the helicopter with the call sign N295AE.
The NTSB’s investigation aims to determine the circumstances and factors that led to this tragic event. A preliminary analysis of the accident is expected to take at least one month, and the full investigation could extend from 12 to 48 months.
