Medical transport helicopter makes emergency landing at Bellingham airport

BELLINGHAM — A medical transport helicopter that had just taken off from St. Joseph’s hospital in Bellingham was forced to make an emergency landing at Bellingham International Airport for mechanical trouble.

At approximately 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, the pilot flying a medical transport helicopter notified the air traffic control tower at Bellingham International Airport of an emergency and requested clearance to land, Director of Aviation Sunil Harman told The Bellingham Herald in an email.

As the helicopter was landing at the airport, a mutual aid request was sent to the Bellingham Fire Department, which was put on standby, according to Harman, and a Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting crew was sent.

Airport operations staff watched the helicopter land safely and all three occupants safely exit, Harman reported, and nobody was injured.

Airport firefighters spoke to the pilot who stated that the helicopter had just lifted off from the hospital and had been sent to pick up a patient, according to Harman, but as it entered Bellingham Bay a warning light had illuminated advising the emergency landing. The pilot also reported there was no other sign of mechanical trouble at the time.

The incident did not impact commercial service to the airport, though one general aircraft was diverted during the incident.