Madison County, MS – Authorities have confirmed the identities of the two University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) employees who lost their lives in Monday’s tragic AirCare helicopter crash as Jakob Kindt and Dustin Pope.
The pilot, employed by Med-Trans, has not yet been publicly named as officials work to notify the family.
Crash Details
The AirCare helicopter, which had just completed a patient transport, was on its way back to base when it crashed at approximately 12:36 p.m. The accident occurred in a heavily wooded area near the Natchez Trace Parkway, north of Highway 43.
Emergency crews were dispatched shortly before 1 p.m., and Madison County officials later confirmed that all three crew members aboard were killed.
“We are on the scene of a medical helicopter crash in a heavily wooded area south of the Natchez Trace and north of Pipeline Road. There are fatalities. We are now awaiting the arrival from the FAA. Any other information should come from them,” said a Madison County official.
The University of Mississippi Medical Center later issued a statement confirming that two UMMC employees and a Med-Trans pilot were on board the aircraft. No patients were aboard at the time of the crash.
Emotional Response from UMMC Officials
During a press conference Monday afternoon, UMMC Vice Chancellor Dr. LouAnn Woodward fought back tears as she addressed the devastating loss.
“Our entire Medical Center family is heartbroken over this,” Woodward said. “We also want to express our concern and sadness for the AirCare team. This is the crew that responds to emergencies across the state. To see them today responding to one of their own… it’s something you can’t put into words.”
FAA and NTSB Investigate Cause of Crash
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation to determine what led to the fatal crash.
Flight tracking data shows that the Airbus EC-135P2+ (N835CS) helicopter took off from UMMC at 12:25 p.m., was airborne for approximately 11 minutes, and covered 23 miles before going down west of the upper Ross Barnett Reservoir near Natchez Trace Parkway.
The helicopter, which was leased by UMMC through Med-Trans, was manufactured in 2012 by Eurocopter Deutschland. The aircraft, equipped with dual engines and seating for seven passengers, had arrived at UMMC earlier that morning around 10:50 a.m. after transporting a patient. It was refueled and en route back to base when the crash occurred.
A History of Excellence in Air Medical Transport
The UMMC AirCare flight program, established in 1996, operates four medical transport helicopters stationed in Jackson, Meridian, Columbus, and Greenwood. Over the past 28 years, AirCare has transported more than 18,000 patients and flown over two million miles without a single FAA-reportable accident—until now.
“We have one of the busiest medical transport helicopter services in the country,” Woodward stated. “There’s a big demand for these services.”
Despite AirCare’s previously unblemished safety record, UMMC is now focused on supporting the families and colleagues of the victims while cooperating fully with federal investigators.
Med-Trans and Parent Company Express Deep Sorrow
On Monday evening, Global Medical Response (GMR), the parent company of Med-Trans, released a statement confirming the tragic loss of their team members:
“It is with deep sadness that we confirm the loss of three AirCare crew members in an accident, including our Med-Trans pilot and two care team members from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The aircraft lost contact with our Communication Center at 12:35 p.m. while returning to base in Columbus, MS, after completing a patient transport in Jackson, MS.”
“Our top priority is supporting the families, our team members, and our partners during this difficult time. Critical Incident Stress Management teams have been deployed to provide support, and additional resources are available.”
“Med-Trans is working closely with the FAA and NTSB as they conduct a thorough investigation into this tragedy. Out of respect for this process, we will not be providing further comment while the investigation is underway.”
At this time, authorities have not released the name of the pilot out of respect for the family’s privacy.
Search for Answers Continues
Officials have not yet determined the cause of the crash. The FAA and NTSB will conduct a comprehensive investigation, examining:
- Flight data
- Aircraft maintenance records
- Weather conditions at the time of the crash
- Possible mechanical failures or pilot distress signals
Community in Mourning
As the UMMC community grieves this devastating loss, hospital officials have emphasized their commitment to supporting the victims’ families while ensuring that the highest standards of safety in medical air transport remain a priority.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.