08/20/2026
🚁 Taking Med 53 Beyond the Helipad 🏔️
Not every call brings us to a hospital helipad or a prepared landing zone.
Recently, PHI Med 53 had the opportunity to land in a remote area on the backside of Mount Taylor, near the Marquez/Seboyeta area, while assisting with an emergency response.
Our crew landed in an unimproved, open area tucked against the mountainside, surrounded by some of the rugged terrain that makes rural New Mexico both beautiful and challenging.
These are the missions that remind us why preparation, communication, and teamwork are so important. Landing a helicopter away from a traditional LZ requires our pilots, medical crew, and ground responders to work together while continuously evaluating terrain, obstacles, conditions, and safety.
We don’t get opportunities like this every day, but Med 53 is proud to be ready when our communities need us, wherever that may be. 🚁🏔️
From the helipad to the mountainside, our mission remains the same: bringing critical care closer to those who need it.
