Update on North Memorial medical helicopter crash

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. (KMSP) - A pilot, flight nurse and paramedic injured in a North Memorial medical helicopter crash over the weekend near Alexandria, Minnesota remain in the hospital. The patient was not on board the helicopter at the time of the crash.

Pilot Joshua Jones, flight nurse Scott Scepaniak and flight paramedic Miles Weske were critically injured when the chopper crashed at 2:07 a.m. on the east side of Lake Winona, en route to the Alexandria airport. All three remain hospitalized at North Memorial Medical Center. Their conditions have not been released.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) arrived on scene Saturday and will remain on scene for a few days. Representatives from the aircraft manufacturer will be on scene Monday. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office, NTSB and FAA will be working with aircraft representatives and hope to remove the wreckage by Monday. The wreckage will be transported to Minneapolis where it will remain throughout the investigation.

A preliminary report will be available from the NTSB within five days and the final report will be completed in 9 to 12 months..

Statement from North Memorial Health Center’s CEO

“I am extremely proud of our team members for their response at the site,” commented J. Kevin Croston, MD, CEO of North Memorial Health Care. “Our immediate concern is with our crew members who are now being treated at North Memorial Medical Center.  We are glad they are here.  There is no better place to receive care.”