A pilot said he abandoned his effort to rescue victims of Hurricane Helene after he was threatened with arrest.

“He went over his flight plan with a Queen City News reporter from his hangar in South Carolina. There were no restrictions in the air space around Lake Lure, one of the worst hit locations. He checked,” Firehouse stated.

“Ok guys I was instructed to suspend operations and let anyone else know that was coming they would be arrested if they were operating aircraft in the area. At the time of this post I was the only helicopter within 40 miles working. **no current active TFR. I am unsure of the guys name but he had on a lake lure fire department shirt. I’m not going to go after any first responders as everyone else was more than happy to help. Even his own employees told me they would block the area for me to bring people to safety,” Jordan Seidhom posted to Facebook

“I was extracting a lady from a collapsing mountain side and Due to the unstable environment I left my copilot on the ground to stay with the husband. When she was brought to safety I was instructed that if I returned to get either person the husband or my copilot I would be arrested. I’m not sure how he was trained but I don’t leave a fellow man behind. My copilot is currently flying me back for more fuel,” he continued.

“I have attached the list of needs I was sent just today and it’s very long. Hopefully they change their mind about asking for help before it gets worse. Thanks again for all the support and prayers. As I was flying back for fuel we passed 6 more people waving for help. Fellow pilots be safe out there. We will be on the north side of the mountain where they appreciate help. These people need help and they are turning us away. Carolina Emergency Response Team,” he added.

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Firehouse reports:

His phone was blowing up with emotional pleas from residents including a woman who said she, her family and pets were trapped with no water or electricity. He discussed the mission with his son, also his co-pilot.

On Saturday, they rescued four people from the flood-ravaged area.

They slept in a pilot’s lounge overnight and headed back out Sunday. Soon thereafter, he and his son spotted an elderly couple in distress and landed nearby.

He didn’t want too much weight in the helicopter so he left his son and the woman climbed aboard. He explained to her husband that he would take one person at a time.

He found a spot to land about three minutes away.

The pilot said he was greeted by fire and search personnel and they discussed the mission. They were appreciative.

“One guy gave me the radio frequencies so we could communicate,” he said, adding he shared that he had both firefighting and law enforcement background.

In the middle of that conversation, things went south quickly when a man approached. He was the Lake Lure fire chief or assistant chief, the pilot said.

“He told me if I didn’t leave the area immediately, I’d be arrested. I told him my background, but he insisted I leave, saying I was interfering with his operation.”

The pilot said he told the officer he would leave, but not until he went back to the spot and got his co-pilot. “He said if I went back, I’d be arrested.”

Two law enforcement officers nearby were flagged over to join the conversation. The pilot also made it clear he was not leaving his son behind. And, moments later took off to retrieve him.

The pilot and his son reportedly aborted their voluntary mission and went back to South Carolina.

“The pilot found out about 20-30 minutes after he rescued the elderly woman, an air space restriction was placed,” Firehouse noted.

Queen City News shared the pilot’s account:

 

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