By Lauren Johnson
Fox 13
BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. — The three victims on board a crashed medical helicopter were all employees of Hospital Wing, based out of the Brownsville office. Their coworkers are remembering them for their hard work and dedication to the profession.
An oversized floral arrangement was delivered to the Hospital Wing headquarters in Memphis, just a few hours after a deadly crash in Haywood County.
“It’s very sad in there, they really miss their family members that they lost this morning,” said Hospital Wing board member Jamie Carter. “We just broke up from a moment of prayer, which I think is great, it was an opportunity for everyone to get together and have a word of prayer.”
The loss is hitting everyone hard at the air ambulatory service.
Hospital Wing pilot Doug Phillips, 58 years old, and flight nurses Cindy Parker, 48 years old, and Misty Brogdon, 36 years old, all died in Thursday morning’s crash.
Phillips began his career with the Memphis Police Department in 1973 where he spent 9 years in the aviation unit. Phillips retired in 2007.
Parker came on board in February 2005. She came from The Med where she worked in shock trauma. Her husband is a flight paramedic, and her son serves in the United States Marine Corps. Thursday was also her birthday.
Brogdon joined Hospital Wing in October 2002. Before that, she worked at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in the emergency room.
All three were based out of the Brownsville branch.
“They’ve been a valued part of this team, and they are going to be sorely missed by the family here,” said Carter.
The National Transportation Safety Board is now in control of the scene where the medical helicopter crashed around 6:00am after dropping off a patient at a Jackson hospital.
“Nothing like this has ever happened in our history; we are deeply saddened by this accident and we are a very close-knit family here at Hospital Wing,” said Carter. “As we all go through the grieving process, our hearts go out to the family members.”
Republished with permission by Fox 13