Gov. Beshear Orders Flags to Half-Staff Saturday in Honor of Air Evac Lifeteam Crew

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 11, 2024) - Gov. Andy Beshear has ordered flags at all state buildings to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset Saturday, Oct. 12, in honor of a medical helicopter crew killed Oct. 7 in a crash in Owenton.

An Air Evac Lifeteam crew consisting of pilot Gale "Butch" Alleman Jr., 66, flight nurse Bethany Aicken, 40, and flight paramedic James Welsh, 29, was on the way to pick up a patient when, according to an initial investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration, their helicopter struck a guy wire and crashed. All three members of the crew, based out of Grant County, died in the accident.

A memorial service for Aicken will take place Saturday evening at Hardy Funeral Home in Louisville.

A funeral ceremony for Welsh is scheduled for Saturday morning at Immanuel Baptist Church in Cold Springs.

Services for Alleman will be held in his home state of Michigan at a later date.

Gov. Beshear encourages all individuals, businesses, organizations and government agencies to join in this tribute. Additional flag status information is available at governor.ky.gov/flag-status.

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