On Wednesday morning, a UNC Air Operations medical plane crashed at RDU Airport carrying Dr. Paul Chelminski, an internal medicine physician with UNC Health. The incident occurred around 10:10 a.m., and Chelminski was immediately taken to the hospital where he was released Wednesday afternoon. Meanwhile, the pilot, Art Johnson, was also taken to Duke University Medical Center in Durham and is currently in fair condition.
According to UNC Health, Chelminski had just given a lecture at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington before the crash occurred. The particular plane involved was one of six in the UNC Air Operations fleet, which typically flies five to seven flights every day with between one to three people on board. An average day for one of these planes could involve transporting medical residents to Wilmington or flying a dental school faculty member to a conference in Asheville.
Amanda Cotton, a nurse practitioner who works with UNC Air Operations, emphasized the importance of this service for medical professionals. She stated that it makes their lives easier by allowing them to travel more efficiently. For instance, instead of having 19 patients travel back to Chapel Hill, it is more convenient for her to travel to different locations for work.
The weather at the time of the crash was mostly cloudy but no rain was reported. It is not believed that weather played a role in the incident as it was not raining at the time of the crash.
Overall, this incident highlights the importance of medical transportation services and how they can make a significant difference in improving patient care and outcomes while also making life easier for healthcare workers.
In conclusion, on Wednesday morning a UNC Air Operations medical plane crashed at RDU Airport carrying Dr. Paul Chelminski and Art Johnson while flying from Wilmington back home after giving a lecture at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. The pilot is now in fair condition while Chelminski has been released from hospital after being treated for his injuries
