Local News
UMMC AirCare Crew Identified in Fatal Helicopter Crash Near Natchez Trace
Madison County, Miss. – Officials have identified two University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) employees killed in Monday’s tragic AirCare helicopter crash as Jakob Kindt and Dustin Pope.
The pilot, an employee of Med-Trans, has not yet been publicly named.
The helicopter, which was returning to base after a patient transport, crashed around 12:36 p.m. in a heavily wooded area near the Natchez Trace Parkway, north of Highway 43.
First responders were dispatched shortly before 1 p.m. A Madison County official confirmed that all three crew members onboard were killed, stating:
“We are on the scene of a medical helicopter crash in a heavily wooded area south of the Natchez Trace and north of Pipeline Road. There are fatalities. We are now awaiting the arrival from the FAA. Any other information should come from them.”
The University of Mississippi Medical Center later issued a memo confirming the crash, stating that two UMMC employees and a Med-Trans pilot were on board.
The helicopter was not carrying a patient at the time of the crash.
At a press conference Monday afternoon, UMMC Vice Chancellor Dr. LouAnn Woodward fought back tears as she addressed the devastating loss, calling it “a tragic day for the Medical Center.”
“Our entire Medical Center family is heartbroken over this,” she said. “We also want to express our concern and sadness for the AirCare team. This is the crew that responds to emergencies across all of the state. And to see them today responding to one of their own… it’s something you can’t put into words.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Flight tracking data indicates that the Airbus EC-135P2+ (N835CS) helicopter took off from UMMC at 12:25 p.m. and was airborne for approximately 11 minutes, covering 23 miles before crashing west of the upper Ross Barnett Reservoir near Natchez Trace Parkway.
The helicopter, leased by UMMC through Med-Trans, was manufactured in 2012 by Eurocopter Deutschland.
The aircraft, which had dual engines and seating for seven, had arrived at UMMC around 10:50 a.m. after dropping off a patient, refueled, and was en route back to base at the time of the crash.
UMMC’s AirCare flight program operates four helicopters stationed in Jackson, Meridian, Columbus, and Greenwood.
Established in 1996, AirCare has since transported more than 18,000 patients and flown over two million miles without any prior FAA-reportable accidents.
“We have one of the busiest medical transport helicopter services in the country,” Woodward stated. “There’s a big demand for these services.”
Despite the program’s previously unblemished safety record, the Medical Center is now focusing on supporting the victims’ families and colleagues while cooperating fully with federal investigators.
On Monday night, Global Medical Response (GMR), the parent company of Med-Trans, released an official statement:
“It is with deep sadness that we confirm the loss of three AirCare crew members in an accident, including our Med-Trans pilot and two care team members from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The aircraft lost contact with our Communication Center at 12:35 p.m. while returning to base in Columbus, MS, after completing a patient transport in Jackson, MS.”
“Our top priority is supporting the families, our team members, and our partners during this difficult time. Critical Incident Stress Management teams have been deployed to provide support, and additional resources are available.”
“Med-Trans is working closely with the FAA and NTSB as they conduct a thorough investigation into this tragedy. Out of respect for this process, we will not be providing further comment while the investigation is underway.”
At this time, the name of the pilot has not been released to protect the privacy of the crew member’s family.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the crash.
The FAA and NTSB will conduct a comprehensive investigation, reviewing flight data, aircraft maintenance records, and weather conditions at the time of the accident.
As the UMMC community mourns this profound loss, officials emphasize their commitment to supporting the victims’ families and ensuring the highest standards of safety in medical air transport.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.