MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Rules By: Senator(s) McCaughn, McMahan, Williams Senate Resolution 114 (As Adopted by Senate) A RESOLUTION REMEMBERING THE DEDICATED AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND COMMENDING THE LIVES OF THE PILOT AND CREW OF THE MEDICAL HELICOPTER WHICH WAS LOST IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN A CRASH IN MADISON COUNTY AFTER TRANSPORTING A PATIENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER ON MARCH 10, 2025. WHEREAS, it is with extreme sadness that we join the entire Medical Center family in mourning the loss of a pilot and two hospital employees in a medical helicopter crash in Madison County while returning to Columbus after transporting a patient to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson on March 10, 2025; and WHEREAS, officials said the three crew members were aboard Columbus-based AirCare3, an emergency medical helicopter, which is a hybrid relationship between UMMC and Med-Trans Corporation, with UMMC providing the clinical teams and Med-Trans providing the pilots and aircraft operations; and WHEREAS, according to UMMC officials, this was the first crash in the 29 years that the AirCare emergency services have been operational; and WHEREAS, UMMC officials shared the identities of all three victims killed in the medical helicopter crash in Madison County: Dustin Pope, 35, of Philadelphia, was a Base Supervisor for AirCare in Columbus and a flight nurse. Pope was also a member of Mossy Oak Properties Bottomland Real Estate. The Neshoba Democrat reported Pope leaves behind a wife and three young children; Jakob Kindt, 37, of Tupelo, was a Critical Care Paramedic. Kindt leaves behind a spouse and family. Officials said Kindt and Pope had both started working for UMMC on August 14, 2017; Cal Wesolowski, 62, of Starkville, was a Med-Trans Corporation pilot. Med-Trans issued a Tuesday morning statement via Facebook stating, in part, the corporation is "heartbroken to share that three AirCare crew members perished in an accident, including our Med-Trans pilot..." The corporation did not release the name of the pilot at the time of that posting; and WHEREAS, a motorcade escorted the remains of the three Mississippi medical helicopter crash victims from the Madison County Coroner's Office to the State Crime Lab; and WHEREAS, state leaders' comments on the helicopter crash: Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves stated, "The First Lady and I are praying for the victims of today's helicopter crash in Madison County. Please keep the victims' families and coworkers in your prayers. It's a tragic reminder of the risks Mississippi's first responders take every day to keep us safe. Our state will never forget the sacrifice of these heroes"; Mississippi's Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann stated, "Please join Lynn and I in praying for the families of the dedicated individuals who lost their lives in the tragic helicopter crash in Madison County. Words cannot express the weight of this loss or the profound gratitude we have for their service in caring for Mississippi's patients"; The Mississippi Department of Public Safety wrote: "We continue to keep our neighbors, the AirCare Team and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and the families and friends of those affected in our thoughts and prayers following this tragedy. First responders dedicate their lives to protecting and serving others, and we will always be grateful for their sacrifices"; LouAnn Woodward, UMMC's Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs said, "Our entire Medical Center family is heartbroken over this. We also want to express our concern and sadness for the AirCare Team. This is the crew that responds to emergencies across all of the state. To see them today responding to one of their own, it's very tragic"; and WHEREAS, it is with great pride and humility that we recognize the heroic action of these great Americans and Mississippians. We should not pause and remember to thank first responders, emergency medical personnel and their families only in the wake of tragedy. We should do it every day: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby remember the dedicated and professional service and commend the lives of the pilot and crew of the medical helicopter which was lost in the line of duty in a crash in Madison County after transporting a patient to the University of Mississippi Medical Center on March 10, 2025, and extend the heartfelt sympathy of the Mississippi Senate to their surviving families. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be forwarded to UMMC Vice Chancellor LouAnn Woodward for appropriate presentation to the surviving family of these three victims, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) McCaughn, McMahan, Williams
# Senate Resolution 114
## (As Adopted by Senate)
A RESOLUTION REMEMBERING THE DEDICATED AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND COMMENDING THE LIVES OF THE PILOT AND CREW OF THE MEDICAL HELICOPTER WHICH WAS LOST IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN A CRASH IN MADISON COUNTY AFTER TRANSPORTING A PATIENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER ON MARCH 10, 2025.
WHEREAS, it is with extreme sadness that we join the entire Medical Center family in mourning the loss of a pilot and two hospital employees in a medical helicopter crash in Madison County while returning to Columbus after transporting a patient to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson on March 10, 2025; and
WHEREAS, officials said the three crew members were aboard Columbus-based AirCare3, an emergency medical helicopter, which is a hybrid relationship between UMMC and Med-Trans Corporation, with UMMC providing the clinical teams and Med-Trans providing the pilots and aircraft operations; and
WHEREAS, according to UMMC officials, this was the first crash in the 29 years that the AirCare emergency services have been operational; and
WHEREAS, UMMC officials shared the identities of all three victims killed in the medical helicopter crash in Madison County:
Dustin Pope, 35, of Philadelphia, was a Base Supervisor for AirCare in Columbus and a flight nurse. Pope was also a member of Mossy Oak Properties Bottomland Real Estate. The Neshoba Democrat reported Pope leaves behind a wife and three young children;
Jakob Kindt, 37, of Tupelo, was a Critical Care Paramedic. Kindt leaves behind a spouse and family. Officials said Kindt and Pope had both started working for UMMC on August 14, 2017;
Cal Wesolowski, 62, of Starkville, was a Med-Trans Corporation pilot. Med-Trans issued a Tuesday morning statement via Facebook stating, in part, the corporation is "heartbroken to share that three AirCare crew members perished in an accident, including our Med-Trans pilot..." The corporation did not release the name of the pilot at the time of that posting; and
WHEREAS, a motorcade escorted the remains of the three Mississippi medical helicopter crash victims from the Madison County Coroner's Office to the State Crime Lab; and
WHEREAS, state leaders' comments on the helicopter crash:
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves stated, "The First Lady and I are praying for the victims of today's helicopter crash in Madison County. Please keep the victims' families and coworkers in your prayers. It's a tragic reminder of the risks Mississippi's first responders take every day to keep us safe. Our state will never forget the sacrifice of these heroes";
Mississippi's Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann stated, "Please join Lynn and I in praying for the families of the dedicated individuals who lost their lives in the tragic helicopter crash in Madison County. Words cannot express the weight of this loss or the profound gratitude we have for their service in caring for Mississippi's patients";
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety wrote: "We continue to keep our neighbors, the AirCare Team and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and the families and friends of those affected in our thoughts and prayers following this tragedy. First responders dedicate their lives to protecting and serving others, and we will always be grateful for their sacrifices";
LouAnn Woodward, UMMC's Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs said, "Our entire Medical Center family is heartbroken over this. We also want to express our concern and sadness for the AirCare Team. This is the crew that responds to emergencies across all of the state. To see them today responding to one of their own, it's very tragic"; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride and humility that we recognize the heroic action of these great Americans and Mississippians. We should not pause and remember to thank first responders, emergency medical personnel and their families only in the wake of tragedy. We should do it every day:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby remember the dedicated and professional service and commend the lives of the pilot and crew of the medical helicopter which was lost in the line of duty in a crash in Madison County after transporting a patient to the University of Mississippi Medical Center on March 10, 2025, and extend the heartfelt sympathy of the Mississippi Senate to their surviving families.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be forwarded to UMMC Vice Chancellor LouAnn Woodward for appropriate presentation to the surviving family of these three victims, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.