By Dave Statter
STATter911.com
DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. — 9NEWS NOW has learned there was an apparent delay in notifying rescuers the Maryland State Police helicopter that crashed late Saturday night had disappeared from radar at Andrews Air Force Base.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed on Monday the time of the crash was 11:58 PM. That is also the time an air traffic controller at Andrews lost communications with the chopper.
Dispatch times and sources familiar with the response indicate that fire and EMS dispatchers with the Prince George’s County 911 center were not alerted to the possibility of a downed helicopter until 12:41 AM, 43 minutes after the crash occurred.
Sources familiar with the search tell 9NEWS NOW there is indication some police officers were already looking for the helicopter before the fire department was notified.
The helicopter was not found until shortly after 2:00 AM in Walker Mill Regional Park near District Heights. A patient on the medical flight, eighteen-year-old Jordan Wells was found alive in the wreckage by a police officer. She remains hospitalized. Four others were killed in the crash, including the flight crew, an EMS worker and another patient.
Rescuers were guided to the location by information received through Verizon about the possible location of a cell phone belonging to a member of the helicopter crew.
9NEWS NOW has contacted Maryland State Police about the length of time it took to get word to fire crews about the missing helicopter. Spokesman Greg Shipley says he is looking into the matter.
The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department has referred questions to NTSB. NTSB has not commented on the delay.