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Aero Med Voluntarily Grounds its Helicopter Service due to “Potential Administrative Error”

Posted at 8:33 AM, May 04, 2014
and last updated 2014-05-04 09:00:06-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (May 4, 2014) – Aero Med voluntarily grounded its helicopter service because of a potential administrative error, according to Spectrum Health.

Spectrum Health released this statement:

“Aero Med has decided to voluntarily ground its helicopter service after learning from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of a potential administrative error. Patient safety is priority for Spectrum Health and we want to ensure all documentation is satisfactory to the FAA. Aero Med expects the issue to be resolved early next week. In the meantime, emergency transport services will continue with ground transportation and partnerships with other flight services.”

According to Kent County and Mecosta County officials, since Friday night there have been at least two car accidents, including one deadly crash, which required Aero Med, but Aero Med’s helicopter service was grounded.

Michigan State Police said two men were killed in a car crash Saturday afternoon around 4:20 P.M. in Mecosta Township. Officials said a GMC Jimmy ran a stop sign on 8 Mile Road at the intersection of Northland Drive and struck a Ford Ranger. According to Troopers, the passengers killed are an 18-year-old man from Wyoming and a 22-year-old man from Coopersville, who were pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said Aero Med was requested for this crash but helicopter service was unavailable. Then Kalamazoo Aero Med was requested but because of windy conditions, it would have taken too long to land the helicopter at the Kent County Airport and then drive an ambulance from the scene here. The two men were transported by ambulance to Grand Rapids and Big Rapids.

Then Friday evening around 8 P.M., Kent County Emergency Dispatch said Aero Med was requested for another crash but helicopter services were unavailable. This crash happened along 13 Mile Road and Long Lake, involved three people and two vehicles.

According to Aero Med’s website, it has an aircraft available 24 hours each day, seven days each week. The website also states Aero Med uses a second aircraft in Big Rapids at certain times.

Stay with Fox 17 News for further updates on this situation.