WAA mission aborted due to laser strike

On 8 September, the Wiltshire Air Ambulance (WAA) helicopter was prevented from picking up a patient after laser pens were shone into the cockpit as the pilot attempted to land in the town of Calne, UK. The patient, who had suffered a heart attack, was instead placed onboard a ground ambulance, but died en route to Great Western Hospital, Swindon.

Wiltshire Police described the actions of the group that targeted the helicopter with lasers as a ‘serious offence’, saying the result could have been ‘catastrophic’. A spokeswoman said: “The Wiltshire Air Ambulance was responding to requests from ambulance crews on the ground in Calne who were dealing with a patient suffering chest problems. Whilst over the location, it was forced to abort a landing and police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this as there is evidence to suggest that a laser pen was being directed at the aircraft.” She added: “At this stage, we are satisfied that the helicopter not being able to land did not affect the outcome of this incident.”

Police officers are now conducting a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the aborted landing.The patient, a man in his 70s, collapsed at around 23:00 hrs. A paramedic arrived on scene, followed by a ground ambulance crew. A spokesman for the Great West Ambulance Service (GWAS) explained: “On arrival, the GWAS clinicians reported that the patient had gone into cardiac arrest and requested the air ambulance attend while they continued providing advanced life-support. They were subsequently told by the GWAS control room that the helicopter was unable to attend, so the patient was taken to Great Western Hospital in Swindon by road ambulance. Unfortunately, he was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital.”