A Kentucky helicopter pilot has pleaded guilty to flying an air ambulance while drunk.
He was transporting a patient and medical staff from eastern KY to Lexington when the helicopter started flying erratically and losing altitude.
“The crew members shouted at Wiljanen over the intercom on the helicopter and after several tries got his attention. They convinced him to land at the Central Kentucky Regional Airport in Richmond, telling him that a crew member was sick, according to the plea. Wiljanen made a non-standard approach to the airport, forcing to other aircraft to take evasive maneuvers. The patient was transferred to a ground ambulance for the trip to the UK hospital, and Wiljanen was taken by ambulance to Baptist Health Hospital in Richmond to be evaluated. A blood alcohol test performed on Wiljanen at 2:19 p.m. showed a concentration of 0.35%, according to the plea agreement.”
With a 0.35 BAC it’s no wonder he’d be semi-comatose.