The Wiltshire Air Ambulance helicopter was forced to make an unplanned landing after it suffered a fault mid-air, the charity has confirmed.
The incident occurred after critical care medics had been tasked to a serious incident in Fairford at shortly before midnight on Saturday, 4 December.
As they attempted to fly back to base at 0.30am on Sunday (5 December), the helicopter’s oil pressure began to drop – resulting in an elective shutdown of one of its engines.
The aircraft, named Helimed 22, was diverted to land at RAF Fairford – just eight miles away – and the pilot U-turned as they flew over Cricklade.
The news comes just eleven days after the green and yellow helicopter returned from Thruxton Aerodrome where it was offline for maintenance work for approximately 48 days.
No patient was on board the aircraft at the time of the fault.
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Air Ambulance said: “We can confirm HM22 conducted an elective shutdown on one of its engines at approximately 00:30 on Sunday 5 December 2021.
“This was a precaution due to a fall in oil pressure on the number one engine and it was diverted to land at RAF Fairford, as it was in close proximity.
“The aircraft will now be inspected by engineers at RAF Fairford before continuing its journey when the relevant checks are complete.
“We remain operational through our two Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs) in the meantime.”
