When a helicopter slammed into a pond at the Region of Waterloo International Airport last week, the female pilot died and a male passenger was critically hurt. But beyond these tragic results, the crash also tested this community’s ability to respond to a serious emergency. And there are reasons to think the response could have been better.
Although the crash occurred on airport land just 700 metres from the control tower where workers watched it go down, there was confusion over where the wreckage was and delay in getting trained rescuers to it. This happened even after a caller contacted 911 with a more accurate description of its location.
Considering that the airport’s fire truck was parked only 1,500 metres from the crash, it’s fair to say it could have reached the scene in three minutes, if only the driver had known where to go. Yet it took up to 12 minutes after wasting time on a wild-goose chase. Fair minds will wonder why help didn’t get to the crash site faster — and expect the authorities to conduct a full review of what happened.
Records show that the first 911 call went out at 11:32 a.m. on Nov. 28, moments after the helicopter crashed. People in the airport control tower reported that the helicopter was down but couldn’t see the exact location. They mistakenly reported it was in the vicinity of Fountain Street and Kossuth Road just south of the airport. This is in Cambridge, not Woolwich Township where the airport is situated.
This error — while understandable — had two unfortunate results. First, Cambridge firefighters from Preston and Galt, as well as the airport fire truck, were sent to the wrong place — in Cambridge. Second, the nearest firehall which was in Breslau was not immediately informed, possibly because dispatchers thought it was in the wrong municipality.
But within two minutes of the first call, better information was sent in a second 911 emergency call from the airport. This call, made at 11:34 a.m., came from someone who could see the helicopter in the water. Police reached the helicopter wreckage at 11:40 a.m. An airport supervisor trained in rescue arrived there three minutes later. After learning the correct location of the crash, the airport fire truck arrived there at 11:45 a.m., followed a minute later by the first ambulance. Finally, at 11:52 a.m. — 20 minutes after the helicopter went down — the Cambridge and Woolwich fire trucks made it to the scene.
We are not trying to play armchair critics here. There is no reason to doubt that all the rescuers were doing their absolute best to get to the crash as quickly as possible. Had they arrived sooner, there is no evidence that the life of the helicopter pilot could have been saved. But in order to ensure we have the best possible system for emergency response in this community, questions need to be asked and answered.
There are multiple dispatch systems in Waterloo Region. Did they serve the public as smoothly and efficiently as possible in this crash? Why did the second 911 call with more accurate information not more quickly clarify where the crash was situated for the fire department crews? Was the right information sent out fast enough to the right people? If police could get to the helicopter just eight minutes after it hit the water, why did it take so long for firefighters who have more specialized training to reach the site?
Why wasn’t the dispatch call sent out to the Woolwich Township firehall in Breslau as soon as to Cambridge? Should the airport have stronger emergency response capabilities? There was only one person trained in firefighting on duty at the airport that day. But he was in the passenger terminal hanging Christmas decorations.
Airport and municipal authorities should respond to these questions and any others that might arise. They should then produce a report with an official timeline that explains to the public who knew what and when. This should not be about pointing fingers or assigning blame. But if this community can improve its ability to respond to emergencies, it should do so.
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