Trauma Star helicopter makes emergency landing at Marathon airport

One of the three Trauma Star helicopters undergoing a landing gear issue safely landed at the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport at approximately 5:31 a.m. Thursday. There were no injuries and no major damage to the helicopter as a result of the emergency landing.

“I want to thank and applaud the entire Trauma Star crew for doing an outstanding job to safely land this aircraft resulting in no injuries,” said Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay.

Trauma Star was en route to Kendal Regional Medical Center in Miami, Florida when the landing gear issue arose. The crew returned to Marathon whereupon the crew safely landed on the tarmac. The patient was safely transported to waiting paramedics on the ground.

The National Transportation and Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were notified of the incident.

There are three Trauma Star helicopters. They operate out of two bases: One at the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport and a second at Lower Keys Medical Center on Stock Island.

All three Trauma Star helicopters are temporarily grounded to confirm the remaining helicopters do not have a similar issue.

The crew is working around the clock and the program is expected to be back in operation by tomorrow morning.

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