Air ambulance crew grounded after drinking alcohol
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(KIRKSVILLE) If you ever need to take an air-ambulance, you assume you're in some of the safest hands in the sky.
But KTVO has learned that a week ago Friday morning, a potentially dangerous situation was avoided, thanks to members of a local emergency crew.
A 95-year-old patient was scheduled to be flown home to California from Kirksville on an air ambulance. But when Adair County ambulance workers transported the patient to Kirksville Regional Airport last Friday morning they smelled alcohol on the two pilots' breath.
ACAD crew members Jerod Wood and Dustin Crump of Kirksville then called the Kirksville Police Department. Officers then administered Breathalyzer tests.
Both members of the federal air ambulance flight crew tested high enough to ground the flight until the next day.
"The FAA has different regulations as far as commercial pilots are concerned. It was over the limit that the FAA allows, which is .04, said Kirksville Police Chief Jim Hughes.
The FAA has launched an investigation and commends the ACAD workers for a job well done.
The two were also formally commended by the chief of police for going above and beyond the call of duty.
"It feels really good to see that we've got a staff that are willing to go above and beyond to take care of patients and ensure patient safety," said ACAD Chief, Jason Albert.
So what happened to patient Delbert Westphal? He was in town to celebrate his 76th wedding anniversary when he and his wife both fell ill.
The pilots delivered Delbert safely to his destination Saturday after passing a second Breathalyzer test.
--Heather Hubbs reporting
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(KIRKSVILLE) If you ever need to take an air-ambulance, you assume you're in some of the safest hands in the sky.
But KTVO has learned that a week ago Friday morning, a potentially dangerous situation was avoided, thanks to members of a local emergency crew.
A 95-year-old patient was scheduled to be flown home to California from Kirksville on an air ambulance. But when Adair County ambulance workers transported the patient to Kirksville Regional Airport last Friday morning they smelled alcohol on the two pilots' breath.
ACAD crew members Jerod Wood and Dustin Crump of Kirksville then called the Kirksville Police Department. Officers then administered Breathalyzer tests.
Both members of the federal air ambulance flight crew tested high enough to ground the flight until the next day.
"The FAA has different regulations as far as commercial pilots are concerned. It was over the limit that the FAA allows, which is .04, said Kirksville Police Chief Jim Hughes.
The FAA has launched an investigation and commends the ACAD workers for a job well done.
The two were also formally commended by the chief of police for going above and beyond the call of duty.
"It feels really good to see that we've got a staff that are willing to go above and beyond to take care of patients and ensure patient safety," said ACAD Chief, Jason Albert.
So what happened to patient Delbert Westphal? He was in town to celebrate his 76th wedding anniversary when he and his wife both fell ill.
The pilots delivered Delbert safely to his destination Saturday after passing a second Breathalyzer test.
--Heather Hubbs reporting
