Three Injured in ARCH Medical Helicopter Crash in Hartford, Illinois
Hartford, IL – April 25, 2025 — A medical emergency turned into a rescue mission Thursday night when an ARCH Air Medical helicopter crashed in Hartford, Illinois, leaving all three crew members onboard injured and hospitalized. The incident occurred around nightfall, and authorities are still working to determine the cause of the crash.
According to early reports from KMOV News, the aircraft went down near a wooded area not far from a residential neighborhood, prompting a swift response from local emergency services. Fire crews, paramedics, and law enforcement officers arrived on the scene within minutes, initiating a rescue operation to extract the crew from the wreckage.
“Upon arrival, we found the helicopter heavily damaged and the three occupants in need of immediate medical attention,” said Captain Mark Delaney of the Hartford Fire Department. “All crew members were conscious when we reached them, but they sustained varying degrees of injuries.”
The names of the injured crew members have not been released as of this writing, but authorities confirmed that they included the pilot, a flight nurse, and a flight paramedic. All three were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. The extent of their injuries remains unknown, and their conditions have not been disclosed publicly.
The helicopter was not transporting a patient at the time of the crash, which likely prevented a more tragic outcome. ARCH Air Medical, a regional provider of emergency air transport services, has confirmed that the aircraft was on a routine flight when the crash occurred.
In a statement issued late Thursday night, ARCH said, “Our primary concern is for the health and recovery of our crew members involved in tonight’s accident. We are cooperating fully with the authorities as the investigation continues.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified and is expected to launch an investigation into the crash. Investigators will examine flight data, pilot records, weather conditions, and the mechanical history of the aircraft to determine what may have gone wrong.
Witnesses in the area reported hearing a loud engine noise followed by a sudden silence and then the sound of the crash. “I heard what sounded like a low-flying chopper, and then there was this strange popping noise,” said Tom Richardson, a local resident who lives less than a mile from the crash site. “Moments later, it just stopped. Then we heard sirens.”
The crash has shaken the small Illinois community, many of whom are familiar with the sight and sound of ARCH helicopters frequently flying overhead en route to nearby hospitals. For now, the focus remains on the recovery of the injured crew and uncovering the cause of this unexpected and harrowing event.
As this is a developing story, more updates are expected in the coming days.