On March 11, 2025, a tragic helicopter crash in Madison County, Mississippi, resulted in the deaths of three individuals: Dustin Pope, Jakob Kindt, and Cal Wesolowski. The helicopter, operated by AirCare, encountered significant issues after refueling at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
While flying over the Pearl River State Wildlife Management Area, the helicopter rapidly descended. A flight nurse communicated a distress message to UMMC MED-COM, stating, "We’ve got a major problem. We are having an emergency landing in a field right now. Ops are not good. Controls are giving us a lot of trouble. Coming in fast." No further communication followed. The crash site, near Turcotte Fish Hatchery, burned for three hours, leaving the wreckage destroyed.
Dustin Pope began his career in public service in 2010 at Anderson Regional Medical Center. He worked in various critical care units before joining AirCare in 2017. His experience included assignments at Rush Foundation Hospital and other critical access hospitals, which equipped him for his role at AirCare.
The investigation aims to uncover the causes of the crash and ensure that similar incidents are prevented. The objective is to support the victims' families in seeking justice by examining every aspect of the accident, identifying mistakes, and implementing safety improvements.