Crash Puts Medical Helicopters On Hold

A commission that evaluates medical transport services has placed the accreditation of a Wichita, Kansas-based company on hold following the third crash of one of its medical helicopters in Oklahoma since 2010.

Eileen Frazer, executive director of the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems, said Wednesday her agency will be looking for trends as it investigates the latest crash of an EagleMed LLC helicopter. Frazer says no decision will be made on revoking accreditation until investigations are complete.

EagleMed spokesman Robbie Copeland said the company is cooperating with investigators.

The crash occurred Tuesday night near the Choctaw Nation Health Care Center in Talihina. Spokeswoman Janet Sharp says a patient in the helicopter died, but it was uncertain whether the patient died due to the crash or a previous medical condition.