Infant, 3 crew members suffer non-life threatening injuries in medical helicopter crash
Officials said it is a "miracle" no one on board was critically injured.
A medical helicopter rests next to the Drexel Hill United Methodist Church after it crashed in the Drexel Hill section of Upper Darby, Pa., on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
This story originally appeared on 6abc.
An infant and three crew members were injured Tuesday afternoon when a medical helicopter crashed near the Drexel Hill United Methodist Church in Drexel Hill, Delaware County.
The crash happened in the 600 block of Burmont Road near Bloomfield Avenue just before 1 p.m.
The helicopter was traveling from WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
The three crew members were rushed to Lankenau Medical Center and the infant patient was taken to CHOP. Officials said miraculously, no one suffered life-threatening injuries.
“It’s a miracle. It’s an absolute miracle,” said Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy M. Bernhardt.
There have been no reports of any injuries to people on the ground.
Actions News spoke with people who live on the block who say the helicopter was several feet from their homes before it crash landed.
“The noise was so loud I thought it was a bomb. It was crazy not a sound I’ve ever heard before,” said Lisa Smith.
Neighbors then flooded the streets.
“I ran out down the street, there were flames and people climbing out from the top of the helicopter,” said Denise Palmarino who’s lived in Drexel Hill for 20 years.
Everyone is praising the pilot, who was in a very tough spot. Surrounding the scene of the crash there are a lot of homes, a busy road, schools, and businesses.
“I can’t wait to meet this gentleman and shake his hand for getting this (helicopter down) the way he did,” said Bernhardt.
A statement from WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital said “…earlier today a LifeNet medical helicopter based out of Hagerstown, Md. That flight subsequently crashed on the way to Philadelphia. Our hearts go out to family and crew on board and we are grateful that early reports indicate the patient and crew survived and that the patient was transported on to the planned hospital by ground transport.”
A cause of this crash remains under investigation.
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