Medical helicopter removed from Whitemarsh Twp., Pa. neighborhood after emergency landing
WHITEMARSH TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- A PennSTAR medical helicopter that was forced to make an emergency landing in a residential area of Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, was removed from the neighborhood yard Tuesday night.
Residents watched as crews hoisted the aircraft on a flatbed truck before it was taken to a facility in Mount Pleasant, Pa.
The FAA and NTSB are still investigating why the helicopter was forced to land around 7:43 p.m. Monday near the intersection of Cannon Hill Road and Musket Road.
Penn Medicine said the helicopter crew was en route from Penn Presbyterian Medical Center to Wings Field in Blue Bell for refueling before picking up a patient at Chester County Hospital.
Officials say there were three flight crew members on board. All three were taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center to be evaluated but no serious injuries were reported.
Video from a nearby resident captured the aircraft descending into the neighborhood.
"I see the helicopter coming right down toward my backyard, and I started recording. I was in shock," recalled Eric Ford of Whitemarsh Twp.
"The helicopter came in this way, and the propeller on the side fell off. And so that was in one yard on the way. It was going one direction, kind of turned around and landed in a person's front yard," added another resident, Brad Ingram.
During a news conference, Whitemarsh Township Police Chief Christopher Ward spoke about the pilot's control under chaos.
"We got very lucky tonight. It's a miracle. The pilot did an amazing job from all accounts, as out of control as it was," said Ward. "He controlled it into an area and was able to put it down without striking, luckily for us, any homes, any vehicles or any people."
As fire and police officials filled the neighborhood, they blocked off certain areas, including Kieran Sheehan's backyard, where you can see the tail rotor from the chopper.
"I hear like the plane, our entire house shook. Then we go outside, and there's a piece of it in our backyard," recalled Sheehan.
Residents are urged to call 911 if any pieces of the aircraft are spotted.
