3 Hospitalized After Medical Helicopter Crashes Outside Illinois Fire Station After Training Exercise

A medical helicopter crashed just outside an Illinois fire department Thursday night after a planned training, officials said.

Air ambulance service Air Methods said its ARCH 1 crew from Granite City, Ill., was departing a local fire station in Hartford when they were “involved in an incident” at around 9 p.m. Thursday. All three crew members on board were transported to local hospitals for evaluation.

The Hartford Fire Department had earlier on Thursday evening posted on social media a public alert that ARCH Medical would be landing a helicopter in the empty lot across from the fire station on Date Street.

“Please do not be alarmed. This is for training purposes only,” the fire department said. “If you would like to see the Helicopter up close, please DO NOT approach the Helicopter without authorization from ARCH. Helicopters can be Very Dangerous and this is one of the reasons for training.”

Videos shared by Jim Barzbee on Facebook show crowds of first responders and onlookers gathered around the crash site.

In an update Friday morning, the fire department said it is working with local police, Air Methods, and the Federal Aviation Administration to determine the cause of the crash.

“We would like to ask everyone to refrain from sharing misinformation or your own opinions regarding this matter,” the fire department said. “We are working to find answers, and when we do, we will share them.”