The Nov. 8, 2025, incident left one dead and two seriously injured
NEED TO KNOW
- A recently released report from the NTSB is offering new insight into the fatal helicopter crash that left one dead and two seriously injured back in November
- The incident occurred on Nov. 8, 2025, near Lebanon, Tenn.
- According to the preliminary report, a flight paramedic on board briefly took over controls of the aircraft while the pilot experienced a medical emergency
A recently released report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is offering new details into the helicopter crash that left one dead and two seriously injured in November 2025.
According to a preliminary report reviewed by PEOPLE, the crash occurred around 1:41 p.m. local time on Nov. 8, 2025, near Lebanon, Tenn. The aircraft was operated by Air Methods LLC which was providing LifeFlight services for the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital in Nashville.
Around 1:34 p.m., LifeFlight1 departed from the base in Gallatin, Tenn., with one pilot, one flight nurse and one flight paramedic named Andrew Sikes. About three minutes after the initial dispatch request, the communications center (AIRCOM) informed the crew their call had been canceled. The pilot subsequently turned around back towards Gallatin.
At 1:39 p.m., AIRCOM received a radio call from the flight paramedic stating: “Aircom…LF1…we have a medical emergency onboard with our pilot…uh were gonna…we will advise.” AIRCOM received no further transmissions from the flight…