Airborne Medical Emergency

By Lt. Matthew Schwall, VQ-1

Through much of our aviation training we are taught to deal with aircraft-related emergencies, such as how to quickly execute memory procedures for an engine fire, locate and isolate a fire in the fuselage and efficiently ditch the aircraft need practice in a training environment so in real circumstances proper procedures are carried out as if it is second nature. However, it is less common in military aviation to practice emergencies unrelated to the aircraft or the mission. In this instance, my crew experienced a non-aircraft-related emergency thanks to turbulence.

On our initial descent into Kadena Air Base, Japan, we noticed we had to descend through a large layer of turbulent-looking clouds to set up for the approach. As a precaution against possible light turbulence, I called for the approach checklist early and for the crew to set Condition 5. The crew expeditiously took their ditching stations while the assigned crew member and observer trainee walked the tube to verify Condition 5 was set properly.

Approximately three minutes after calling for Condition 5, our aircraft hit a turbulent air pocket and rapidly descended 1,000 feet in a few seconds, then reentered smooth air. The observer trainee lost his footing due to the negative G-forces and was thrown in the aircraft. He landed on his ankle wrong and was unable to put any weight on it. A few crew members helped him to his ditching station as his ankle and leg began to swell. We coordinated the most expeditious route back to Kadena with air traffic control (ATC). Upon check in with the terminal area controller, we declared a medical emergency to ensure priority landing status and requested an ambulance meet our aircraft to transport the crew member to the hospital.

Upon landing, the Kadena fire department assisted the injured crew member off the aircraft and transported him to the emergency room. X-ray results revealed he had fractured his tibia and fibula. He also had a severe ankle sprain. It was his first flight in the EP-3E Orion in four years and unfortunately his last for a couple of months.

Our crew’s unified effort and realtime planning, combined with our coordination with ATC and ground resources, resulted in a successful outcome. While not commonly trained to in military aviation, airborne medical emergencies occur and can be just as critical as an aircraft malfunction.

As professional aviators, we need to bring this hazard into our scan and into our wardroom discussions. As aircrews, we must be aware of the resources, particularly external to the aircraft, we can use when an emergency arises to facilitate the best outcome, especially when it’s outside our expertise. This incident and our crew’s exceptional coordination and decision making have impacted how we train our mission commanders and senior enlisted leadership.