Medical helicopter crashes in Sacramento, leaving crew critically injured

In the United States, a significant incident occurred on October 6, 2025, when a medical helicopter crashed on Highway 50 in Sacramento around 7 p.m. The REACH Air Medical helicopter had just taken off from UC Davis Medical Center and was heading towards Redding when it unexpectedly went down, affecting eastbound traffic on the freeway. The crash prompted immediate emergency responses from the Sacramento Fire Department and California Highway Patrol, resulting in the complete closure of the highway in both directions. The accident resulted in three people on board the helicopter, including a pilot, nurse, and paramedic, suffering critical injuries, while remarkably, no other vehicles were involved in the incident. Witnesses reported chaotic scenes as civilians aided emergency responders in extracting one of the crew members, who was found trapped under the wreckage. Photos and videos captured moments of first responders working diligently at the crash site, surrounded by debris from the helicopter, highlighting the tension and urgency of the situation during the responder efforts. The condition of the injured crew members following their transport to nearby hospitals is currently unknown, but they received immediate medical attention after the incident. A statement was released by REACH Air Medical Services, expressing their prayers and thoughts for those affected by the crash and confirming that there were no patients onboard during the incident. The California Highway Patrol, along with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), are all involved in investigating the crash’s cause, which is still unknown. Despite clear weather conditions at the time of the accident, the helicopter ultimately succumbed during what appeared to be the takeoff phase of its flight. Flight-tracking data indicated a loss of signal just moments before the mishap, suggesting a possibly critical in-air emergency. The complexity of the investigation might reveal important insights into the factors leading to the crash and help prevent such occurrences in the future, thus underscoring the ongoing need for safety in air medical transport operations.