LEBANON, Tenn. (AP) — On Saturday, a tragic accident occurred when a medical helicopter crashed east of Nashville, Tennessee, killing one crew member and critically injuring two others. Thankfully, there were no patients on board at the time of the incident.

The Vanderbilt LifeFlight helicopter went down around 1:45 p.m. in a field located between Lebanon and Gallatin, roughly 22 miles (35 kilometers) east of Nashville, as reported by the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office. The crash site was about 12 miles (19 kilometers) south of the Music City Executive Airport, which serves as the base for operations at the Sumner County Emergency Operations Center.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has announced that it is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. In a statement from Vanderbilt LifeFlight, it was disclosed that the two injured crew members were transported to Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville for medical treatment. The standard crew configuration for such flights typically consists of a pilot, a paramedic, and a nurse.

In expressing condolences, Vanderbilt LifeFlight stated, “Our hearts and deepest sympathies are with our Vanderbilt LifeFlight colleagues, their families, and loved ones during this difficult time.” The helicopter involved in the crash was an Airbus EC130T2, which had been manufactured in 2015, according to records from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Aviation tracking websites, including FlightAware and Flightradar24, indicated that the helicopter took off from the emergency operations center at 1:33 p.m. and was airborne for approximately eight minutes before the unfortunate crash occurred.

This incident marks a significant tragedy within the medical transport community, highlighting the risks that crew members undertake while performing critical air medical services. As more information becomes available about the investigation, the hope is to understand the factors that led to this devastating event.