A helicopter rescue gone wrong on a popular Phoenix hiking trail has resurfaced online years later, drawing renewed attention to a case that ended with a $450,000 settlement approved by the city.
The incident involved Katalin Metro, a 74-year-old woman who was injured while hiking Piestewa Peak in June 2019. Video of her rescue, which shows a stretcher spinning rapidly beneath a Phoenix police helicopter, has circulated online for years. This week, the footage gained fresh traction after being reposted on X, formerly Twitter, with added context about the legal outcome of the case.
Incident
On June 4, 2019, Metro was hiking with her husband, George, when she tripped and fell on the trail. According to reporting from NBC, she suffered a broken nose, bruising to her leg and hand, and damage to her eyeglasses.
Because of the steep and rocky terrain near Piestewa Peak, the Phoenix Fire Department decided to use a helicopter hoist to evacuate her. During the lift, however, the stretcher began to rotate uncontrollably while suspended beneath the aircraft.
Investigators later determined that the tag line attached to the stretcher was affected by the helicopter’s rotor wash, the powerful downward airflow created by spinning rotor blades. Helicopter rotors typically rotate at about 150 to 170 revolutions per minute, and those forces caused the stretcher to spin repeatedly because it was not adequately stabilized.
Injuries
According to court filings cited by AirMed & Rescue, Metro stated that she experienced severe swelling to her head, swollen eyes, and injuries to her external auditory canals. Her medical costs eventually exceeded $290,000.
Metro later told reporters that during the incident she believed she might lose her eyesight due to the swelling. Aviation experts cited in later analyses estimated that she may have experienced forces approaching 20 Gs while spinning, far exceeding what most people encounter in everyday conditions.
For comparison, Formula One drivers typically experience about 5 to 6 Gs during high-speed turns.
Lawsuit
Metro filed a $2 million notice of claim against the city of Phoenix and later pursued a civil lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court. Her attorney, K. Thomas Slack, argued that Metro did not require an emergency airlift and had specifically requested not to be evacuated by helicopter.
Court documents indicated that these circumstances weakened the city’s ability to defend the case.
In December 2021, the Phoenix City Council unanimously approved a $450,000 settlement. City officials did not admit wrongdoing, but the settlement resolved the lawsuit without a trial.
Aftermath
According to Fox 13, Metro later required surgery for a spinal cord injury and underwent extended rehabilitation at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Since the settlement, she and her husband have largely avoided public attention, despite the rescue footage continuing to resurface online.
The case has been frequently cited in discussions within the rescue aviation industry. Experts say it helped prompt renewed focus on helicopter hoist safety, particularly the importance of stabilizing stretchers during aerial rescues to prevent uncontrolled rotation.
While the video is often shared for its shocking visuals, aviation specialists continue to emphasize that the incident underscores the risks involved in complex rescue operations and the need for strict safety protocols.
FAQs
Who was involved in the helicopter rescue incident?
A 74-year-old hiker named Katalin Metro.
Where did the rescue take place?
On Piestewa Peak in Phoenix.
What went wrong during the rescue?
The stretcher was not properly stabilized and began spinning.
How much was the settlement?
The city approved a $450,000 settlement.
When was the settlement approved?
In December 2021.
