CORBIN, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — A former air ambulance helicopter pilot has been sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading guilty to flying while drunk in December.
According to a civil complaint, on March 21, 2023, Morgan Wiljanen, 47, was flying Air Evac 79 from Baptist Health Corbin to the University of Kentucky Medical Center with a patient on board. While en route to UK, the helicopter began suddenly dropping altitude, triggering numerous terrain warnings. All attempts to communicate with Wiljanen failed for several minutes until he responded and leveled the helicopter out.
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In the complaint, it was noted that Wiljanen refused to explain the sudden drop in altitude.
Court records show that Wiljanen was, once again, rendered unresponsive and appeared to be slumped over at the controls. After several more minutes of little to no response from Wiljanen, the crew attempted to force Wiljanen to end the flight.
The complaint noted that Wiljanen refused to end the flight and spoke over the crew when they attempted to contact Air Evac dispatch. The crew eventually falsely claimed that the on-flight nurse was having a medical episode and an emergency landing was required.
Records show that Wiljanen was very confused while trying to land and nearly collided with two aircraft before successfully landing. After the landing, medical testing found that Wiljanen’s blood alcohol content was 0.35, more than four times the legal limit.
Read more of the latest Kentucky news According to the U.S. Department of Transportation , Wiljanen was charged with operating an aircraft while under the influence of alcohol on Nov. 7 and pleaded guilty on Dec. 15 .
Court documents show that Wiljanen was sentenced to eight months in prison.
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