Gale Alleman, Bethany Aicken Obituary, Death – Authorities have identified the three crewmembers who tragically lost their lives in a medical helicopter crash in Owen County, Kentucky, on October 7. The Kentucky State Police confirmed that the victims were Gale Alleman, Bethany Aicken, and James Welsh, all part of the Air Evac Lifeteam 133.
In a statement released on Monday night, the Air Evac Lifeteam expressed their deep sorrow over the loss of their crew members. “Air Evac Lifeteam is heartbroken to share that three crew members from AEL base 133 perished in a helicopter accident in Owenton, Kentucky today,” the company said.
According to an Air Evac Lifeteam social media post, the crew, based in Grant County, was on a mission to pick up a patient when the crash occurred. No patients were onboard at the time of the accident.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has begun investigating the crash and stated that a preliminary report would be released within 30 days. An NTSB investigator was expected to arrive at the crash site on Tuesday to begin documenting the scene and examining the helicopter.
The investigation will focus on several factors, including radar data, weather conditions, and the aircraft’s maintenance history, as well as the pilot’s medical records. The NTSB emphasized that investigators will assess the human, machine, and environmental factors involved in the crash as part of their thorough investigation.
This tragic incident has shaken the Air Evac Lifeteam community and has prompted a comprehensive inquiry into the cause of the crash.