On Friday, April 12 at approximately 12:46 p.m., personnel from the Maryland State Police Aviation Command (MSPAC) received a request from the Anne Arundel County Fire Department requesting a helicopter to assist them with the extraction of a medical patient from a cargo ship. Anne Arundel County Fire Department and the United States Coast Guard rescue boats were alongside the cargo ship “Capri,” but were unable to safely transfer the patient into either of their rescue boats.
Trooper 7, the Aviation Command’s helicopter stationed at Saint Mary’s County Airport, was immediately dispatched. The crew arrived on scene and located the cargo vessel “Capri” anchored in the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Bay Bridge. Anne Arundel County Fire Department’s HEAT team members were on board the cargo ship “Capri” and communicated their concerns to the crew of Trooper 7. Together it was determined an aerial hoist would be the most efficient and safest way of extracting the patient and transporting to appropriate medical care.