Airplane Crash in Guam, August 6, 1997: The Aeromedical Evacuation Response

Abstract

A civilian airplane crash on the island of Guam in 1997 produced 16 burned survivors. The U.S. Army Burn Flight Team and U.S. Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Teams conducted a joint aeromedical mission in response to this disaster. This experience was reviewed from the Burn Flight Team perspective. A record of events was made during the mission, and an after-action review was conducted after the mission. Twelve patients were transported to Korea, and four critically ill patients were transported to the U.S. Army Burn Center in San Antonio, TX. The latter mission required 21 hours of in-flight critical care and was completed 4 days and 3 hours after the crash. After-action review resulted in changes in communications procedures, administrative oversight, supplies and equipment, composition of the Burn Flight Team, and readiness and training. These peacetime lessons contributed to the military's ability to transport wartime burn casualties in ensuing years and indicate the close interdependence of the disaster response and combat missions.