UNC Air Operations: Airlifting Medical Professional for Urgent Care
An internal medicine physician with UNC Health, Dr. Paul Chelminski, was airlifted to the hospital after a UNC Air Operations medical plane crashed at RDU around 10:10 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The pilot, Art Johnson, was also taken to Duke University Medical Center in Durham and is currently in fair condition. This particular plane was one of six in the fleet that UNC Air Operations typically flies five to seven flights every day, with an average of between one to three people on board each flight.
On the day of the crash, Chelminski had just given a lecture at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington before being transported back to Chapel Hill via the plane. Amanda Cotton, a nurse practitioner who works closely with UNC Air Operations, emphasized the importance of this service for medical professionals like herself. She stated that it makes their lives easier by allowing them to travel more efficiently and reach different locations for work without having to worry about long drives or delays caused by traffic or weather conditions.
The weather at the time of the crash was mostly cloudy but no rain was reported. Weather is not believed to be a factor in the incident as investigations are ongoing to determine what caused the crash and any potential safety concerns that may arise from it in the future.
