UPDATE: Air Ambulance still grounded by volcanic ash (From This Is Local London)

News RSS Feed Send your news, pictures & videos

UPDATE: Air Ambulance still grounded by volcanic ash

4:00pm Thursday 15th April 2010 in News By Andy Carswell and James Nadal

Volcanic ash cloud grounds Air Ambulance

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE'S Air Ambulance service has been grounded following the volcanic ash cloud affected air traffic.

A helicopter from the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance Service was called to a crash on the M40 earlier today – but the service were told about 3.30pm it would be grounded until further notice.

This is because the helicopter's manufacturers cannot guarantee its engines will not be affected by the ash.

Flights all around the UK had already been suspended as the ash moves south.

The cloud of ash, caused by a volcanic eruption in Iceland, has led to all non-emergency flights out of Britain being cancelled.

Spokesman Michelle Hewitt said: “We have been grounded despite the fact it's very high (the ash cloud) and it's not in our air space.

"We are being told by the powers that be that we can't fly at the moment.

“So we are coming back from the last job until further notice."

She said the crews, who have flown two crash victims to hospital today, were frustrated by the decision.

"I don't think they are particularly happy about it, they want to be providing the service and they can't at the moment so they are waiting just waiting for it be lifted," she said.

“But we don't want to put the public at risk at all so we have to listen to the people that know if it can affect us.”

Rescue crews are still ready to respond to emergencies in a rapid response vehicle, she added.

London air ambulance was also grounded yesterday.

Comments(10)

ferrellcat says...
4:47pm Thu 15 Apr 10

oh well at least were getting something from iceland,not yet the millions our council lost but its a start I suppose