http://news.yam.com/afp/international/200806/20080609868517.html
德州醫療直升機墜毀 病患醫護全罹難
法新社╱鄭詩韻 2008-06-09 13:20
(法新社華盛頓八日電)美國「有線電視新聞網」(CNN)報導,一架趕著載運病患就醫的醫療直昇機,今天在德州墜毀,機上四人全數罹難。
報導指出,直升機是在破曉時分從德州亨茲市起飛前往約一百一十二公里外的休士頓,但起飛後數分鐘即與地面塔台失去聯繫。
報導說,上午約八時三十分,德州當局在亨茲市西南方桑休士頓國家森林區的茂密樹林中,發現這架貝爾407直升機殘骸。
公共安全部警官桑巴告訴「休士頓紀事報」:「直升機在撞擊後完全解體,壓垮幾棵松樹。」
死者包括病患、機長、護士與醫療人員。報導未透露病患病因。
報導說,直升機墜毀時天候良好,也未發出求救訊號。全國運輸安全委員會與美國聯邦航空總署官員正在現場判定失事原因。
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080609/ts_alt_afp/usaviationmedicineaccident_080609012745;_ylt=AuUOoe6vXg16S9vcfAVvSK7Ya7gF
Medical helicopter crash kills four in Texas: report
Sun Jun 8, 9:27 PM ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) - A medical helicopter rushing a patient to hospital crashed Sunday in Texas, killing all four people on board, US media reported.
The patient was being transported in predawn hours from Huntsville to Houston, Texas, a distance of about 70 miles (112 kilometers), but ground control lost contact with the pilot minutes after takeoff, CNN television said.
Around 8:30 am local time, Texas authorities spotted the wreckage of the Bell 407 helicopter in a densely wooded area of Sam Houston National Forest, just southwest of Huntsville, the reports said.
"The helicopter was totally disintegrated upon impact," Department of Public Safety Trooper John Sampa told The Houston Chronicle. "It took down a couple of pine trees."
The dead included the patient, the pilot, a nurse and a paramedic. The nature of the medical emergency was not disclosed.
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were on the scene trying to determine the cause of the crash, which occurred in fair weather and without any apparent distress call, reports said.
May the Force be with you