A tragic helicopter crash in Mississippi claimed the lives of three crew members on Monday. The AirCare helicopter went down in a wooded area near Canton around 12:30 p.m., shortly after reporting a flight control issue. The pilot, Cal Wesolowski, 62, and crew members Jakob Kindt, 37, and Dustin Pope, 35, all died in the incident.
Before the crash, the pilot indicated he would try to land the helicopter in a nearby field. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed shortly after that attempt and caught fire. Investigators noted that the helicopter’s rotor blades struck trees, which contributed to the crash.
The helicopter was returning to its base in Columbus after transporting a patient when the accident occurred. Wesolowski worked for Med-Trans Corp., which provides medical flight services in partnership with health care systems. The University of Mississippi Medical Center, which operates the AirCare service, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of their team members.
Dr. LouAnn Woodward, the medical center’s vice chancellor for health affairs, shared the organization’s grief during a news conference. The entire medical community is mourning this tragic event, reflecting on the dedication and bravery of those who serve in emergency medical services.