The family of a helicopter pilot whose craft fell from the sky Sunday is remaining optimistic.
Rob Hammons, 36, an experienced helicopter pilot, was flying a Bell JetRanger, applying herbicides to timber fields for Provine Helicopter Services, when his plane suddenly crashed. Hammons remains in the North Mississippi Medical Center intensive care unit in Tupelo and was scheduled to undergo surgery today.
His father, Allan Hammons, said the crash left his son with a serious back injury, but the extent of the injury is still unknown.
“He’s resting a little bit more comfortably now,” Allan Hammons said. “They are going to do a surgery to stabilize his back.”
He added that Rob Hammons would be in surgery most of the morning and early afternoon, as surgeons work to insert titanium rods into his back to respace vertebrae.
Initial reports published by the Federal Aviation Administration indicate only that the injuries were “serious.” No information regarding the cause of the crash has been released yet.
Allan Hammons said people in the community have given his son a lot of support. He added that his son has so many friends across the country that it has been difficult to keep them all updated on his condition.
“We have received literally hundreds of e-mails and text messages,” Allan Hammons said. “It’s impossible to even respond to them all. I have to thank everyone out there for their support in what is a very difficult time.”
According to the Provine Helicopter Services Web site, this would be the company’s first incident recording an injury. The company performs regular inspections, in excess of federal aviation regulations.
