Air Ambulance returns one helicopter to the skies

One of the three helicopters used by the Midlands Air Ambulance has been cleared to return to normal service this morning.

The fleet was grounded yesterday by operator Bond Air Services after a fault was discovered in one of the models elsewhere in the country.

But, after an inspection by Bond engineers, the chopper based at Tatenhill airbase in Staffordshire will take to the skies again today.

Inspections on the other craft, which are based at Cosford and Strensham, are continuing.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said:

Clearly safety is our number one priority and will be guided by the operator of the aircraft.

The crews that would have been flying today have been responding on land vehicles as they would if the weather had stopped the helicopters flying.