GhLinks Media
Late Saturday night, a devastating helicopter crash in western Oklahoma claimed the life of Russell Haslam, an esteemed pilot with Air Evac Lifeteam.
Russell Haslam, who served as a Line pilot at Air Evac Lifeteam, had been with the organization from June 2019 until 2024.
Prior to his tenure at Air Evac, he excelled as an AS350 EMS Pilot from December 2017 to June 2019.
He earned a Bachelor of Science (BS), Professional Aeronautics from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Other victims
Air Evac Lifeteam identified other crew members who lost their life as flight nurse Adam Tebben, and medic Steven Fitzgerald.
What happened in Oklahoma medical helicopter crash
Saturday night, an Air Evac crew had dropped off a patient at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma before heading back to its base in Weatherford.
At 11:23 p.m., the operations control center for Air Evac Lifeteam lost contact with the helicopter, a Bell 206L-3, according to a social media post by Air Evac Lifeteam.
“Please continue to hold all of their families in your hearts,” the team said in a Facebook post. “Russell, Adam and Steven, we miss you so much. We’ll take it from here.”
Medical helicopter crash near Weatherford, Oklahoma
According to flight tracking data, the helicopter lost contact outside of Hydro, Oklahoma, a town 8 miles east of Weatherford.
When will the investigation be complete?
Air Evac Lifeteam has turned over the investigation to the National Transportation Safety Board.
While the board will release a preliminary report, the investigation could take 12 to 24 months to complete.
