US military aircraft destroys a helipad during a drill at a British hospital and prevents emergency flights from landing
A spokesman for Cambridge University Hospitals said the incident forced emergency flights to be diverted to the local airport, which is located about 5 kilometers from the medical center.
In a video broadcast by the ITV chain, you can see how a Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey convertiplane tries to take off from the helipad of the Addenbrooke hospital, when a blast of air descending from its propellers destroys the runway, causing several of its parts to fly away. Around the area.
Addenbrooke Hospital is the leading trauma center in the east of England and its helipad is used by various air ambulance services in the region. According to a spokesman for Cambridge University Hospitals, the incident forced emergency flights to be diverted to the local airport, which is located about 5 kilometers to the north.
“While our normal helipad is being repaired, air ambulances will temporarily land at the nearby Cambridge city airport,” the spokesperson said, detailing that patients will be transferred to hospital “in roadside ambulances with critical care personnel on board.”
For his part, Major Keavy Rake, of the US Air Force, pointed out that “the area was inspected” and “there was some damage.” “We are taking steps to repair it as soon as possible. Our units are continually coordinating with our local partners to improve operations. We are very appreciative of the relationship and coordination we have with the UK,” he added.
