What happened
On November 4, 2018, an Airbus AS-365N2 helicopter, registration NA-104, operated by the National Airborne Service Corps, departed Kaohsiung International Airport to perform an emergency medical hoist mission. The mission targeted a cargo ship located approximately 2.5 nautical miles off Kaohsiung Port, where a patient was reported to be in a comatose state.
Upon arrival, the crew evaluated the situation and determined that a stretcher provided by the vessel could be used for the recovery. During the hoisting process, as the stretcher approached the helicopter cabin, it began to rotate due to wind and rotor downwash. The patient began to struggle significantly, flailing their arms. Despite attempts to restrain the movement, the patient eventually slipped from the safety straps of the stretcher. The shift in weight caused the stretcher to tilt, resulting in the patient falling into the sea.
The crew immediately initiated a second rescue attempt using a rescue loop, but found the patient was unresponsive. A third attempt was made using a rescue basket, which successfully recovered the patient. Despite continuous CPR performed by the crew during the flight back to Kaohsiung, the patient was pronounced deceased after arriving at the hospital.