GRANITE CITY, Ill. – After a harrowing crash that left a St. Louis medical helicopter in flames in April, the ARCH 1 crew is back in the air and is on a mission to save lives.          

After weeks of recovery, investigation and training, they’re back and determined to continue their lifesaving work from above.

“We are very excited to be back in the air. We are needed in the communities,” Megan Thompson said. “We have a close relationship with first responders; we like to partner with them to get the patient to the best place and the best time and get them the best help possible.”

In last month’s terrifying crash, the aircraft was destroyed during a routine training exercise. ARCH 1 crashed near the Hartford Fire Department in Illinois, leaving three crew members injured.  

Despite the incident, the crew is taking flight again. And their colleagues who were injured are taking it one day at a time. 

To make this possible, the team underwent weeks of medical treatment, safety reviews and training before receiving clearance to return to duty.

“ARCH is important because we have a lot of rural communities around us who may not have access to resources they have in St. Louis and bigger community communities so we are able to fly to those more rural areas and get them to the area that has the resources and the things they need faster,” Thompson said.

ARCH 1 is part of a regional network of air medical units providing critical care transport—often in life-and-death situations. 

“We provide health care in the air. We do everything that an ER or ICU can do but in a helicopter,” Danica Fainridge said. “We are like a mobile unit in the air. We carry blood, we have ventilation and we have training with devices.”  

Back in the air and back on call, ARCH 1 is proudly flying to help those in need.