A helicopter that crashed during a flight to pick up a heart for transplant, killing all three people on board, should never have taken off because weather conditions and visibility were too poor, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a victim. The Dec. 26 crash in northeast Florida killed Dr. Luis Bonilla, a heart surgeon, and David Hines, an organ procurement technician, who were flying from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville to pick up a heart at a Gainesville hospital. Also killed was the pilot, E. Hoke Smith, of St. Augustine-based SK Logistics.
Sun-Sentinel (AP), 01/24/2012
Additional coverage: Gainesville Sun
Tags: David Hines, Dr. Luis Bonilla, E. Hoke Smith, helicopter crash, Issues, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville