Lake Lure, North Carolina, officials have stood by their fire department after a volunteer helicopter pilot was threatened with arrest during a rescue mission. Assistant Fire Chief Chris Melton told pilot Jordan Seidhom that he would be arrested if he continued his unsanctioned rescue of a couple stranded by Hurricane Ian on a mountainside.
Seidhom had rescued Susan Coffey but had to leave her husband, Mike, and his own son behind due to space constraints on the helicopter. When he returned to rescue them, Melton intervened, claiming Seidhom was disrupting official operations. Despite Melton’s warning, Seidhom went on with the rescue, which sparked a public outcry.
Lake Lure Town Manager Olivia Stewman defended Melton’s actions, asserting that Seidhom had failed to notify authorities and was not authorized to be part of the rescue efforts. “Our personnel were doing what they were supposed to do,” Stewman told local reporters, emphasizing that safety concerns were the priority.
While Seidhom claimed he had coordinated with the local Rutherford Airport, Stewman indicated that this information had not reached the fire department. The airport, which was operating without power, had refueled Seidhom’s helicopter specifically for search-and-rescue missions, according to the pilot.
The situation has led to controversy, with many questioning whether the fire department’s strict adherence to protocol delayed the rescue of Mike Coffey. However, Stewman dismissed those concerns, stating that the department had acted appropriately under the circumstances.
