I bring you a weekly bite-sized chunk of the science behind helicopter human factors and CRM in practice, simplifying the complex and distilling a helicopter related study into a summary of less than 500 words.
TITLE:
The first fatal Helicopter Emergency Medical Services crash in Turkey: Weather, human factors, and lessons learned.
WHAT?
This paper reviews Turkey’s first fatal HEMS crash and examines what went wrong, focusing on weather, human factors, and operational risks. The accident is used to highlight safety lessons and recommend ways to prevent similar events in the future.
WHERE?
Mugla, Turkey. The analysis also compares findings with international HEMS accident data.
WHEN?
The accident occurred on 22 December 2024. The report was published in 2025.
WHY?
Turkey’s HEMS system has grown rapidly since starting in 2008, however, this first fatal crash exposed potential weaknesses in operational standards. The aim of the paper was to understand what contributed and identify practical lessons to improve safety as the system continues to expand.
HOW?
This is a short case-study review rather than a formal research experiment. The authors examined details of the accident and compared them with known international HEMS safety data and previous accident studies.
FINDINGS:
The H135 helicopter collided with a hospital building shortly after takeoff in dense fog. Poor visibility contributed to spatial disorientation and loss of situational awareness. The authors also highlight other human factors such as decision-making under pressure and fatigue.vThe urban environment increased risk, as crews were operating at low altitude around obstacles.
When compared with international data, the paper notes that human factors remain the leading contributor to HEMS accidents worldwide, including poor weather assessment, fatigue, and disorientation. The review highlights positive trends internationally: fatal HEMS accidents have decreased in recent years due to better training, stronger regulation, improved technology, and greater safety awareness.
SO WHAT?
The accident is presented as a reminder that continued investment in training, technology, and safety culture is essential as new helicopter operations expand. The paper uses the case study to reinforce several important lessons for HEMS. Weather decision-making and spatial orientation remain critical risks, especially during low-visibility. Human factors such as fatigue and pressure can combine with environmental hazards to create high-risk situations.
For operators and trainers, the authors recommend stronger simulation-based training, especially scenarios involving poor weather and urban obstacles. They also suggest improved real-time weather information availability, obstacle detection technology, and stronger safety regulations and fatigue management practices.
REFERENCE:
Golcuk, Y., & Guler, L. M. (2025). The first fatal helicopter emergency medical services crash in Turkey: Weather, human factors, and lessons learned. Air Medical Journal, 44, 223–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amj.2025.02.002
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