On Wednesday morning, a UNC Air Operations medical plane crashed at RDU around 10:10 a.m., carrying Dr. Paul Chelminski, an internal medicine physician with UNC Health. The incident occurred while the plane was in flight from Wilmington to Chapel Hill, with Chelminski on board for a lecture at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
The pilot of the plane, Art Johnson, was also injured in the crash and was taken to Duke University Medical Center in Durham. He is currently in fair condition. Chelminski was released from the hospital later that afternoon.
UNC Health stated that this particular plane was one of a fleet of six, with UNC Air Operations typically flying between five to seven flights every day, with an average of between one to three people on board. These planes are used for a variety of purposes, including transporting medical professionals to conferences and clinics across the state.
Amanda Cotton, a nurse practitioner who works closely with UNC Air Operations, emphasized the importance of the service provided by the organization. She said that it makes the lives of medical professionals easier by allowing them to travel more efficiently and cover more ground without having to rely on public transportation or rental cars. This allows them to focus on their work instead of worrying about logistics like transportation and scheduling.
The weather at the time of the crash was mostly cloudy but no rain was reported. Weather is not believed to be a factor in the incident at this time.
UNC Air Operations has been operating for many years and has become an essential part of healthcare delivery across North Carolina. The organization’s mission is to provide safe and efficient transportation for medical professionals so that they can focus on their patients’ care instead of worrying about logistics like transportation and scheduling.
In conclusion, UNC Air Operations is an essential part of healthcare delivery across North Carolina as it provides safe and efficient transportation for medical professionals so that they can focus on their patients’ care instead of worrying about logistics like transportation and scheduling