NASHVILLE, TN - A quiet Saturday afternoon (11/8/2025) in Wilson County turned tragic when Vanderbilt LifeFlight 1 went down in a field near the 7100 block of Cairo Bend Road. The crash occurred around 2 p.m., claiming the life of Allan Williams, a registered nurse and seasoned flight nurse/paramedic who had just celebrated 15 years of service with Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Williams was known not only for his clinical expertise but also for his dedication to safety and education. He coordinated helicopter safety classes and supported patients at events through the LifeFlight event medicine team. His death has left a deep void in the LifeFlight family and beyond.

Two others aboard the helicopter remain in critical condition at Vanderbilt Medical Center. One has been identified as Andrew “Andy” Sikes, a Critical Care Flight Paramedic. The pilot’s name has not been released at the request of the family. Thankfully, there was no patient on board at the time of the crash.

Vanderbilt LifeFlight released a heartfelt statement honoring the team’s legacy and Williams’ commitment to service. “For 41 years, through more than 80,000 flights and 40,000 ground transports, the remarkable members of the Vanderbilt LifeFlight team have saved countless lives,” the statement read. “Despite the inherent risk of this work, these dedicated individuals feel called to serve patients in their most vulnerable moments.”

Just ten days prior, two LifeFlight members from the Murfreesboro Municipal Airport were guests on WGNS’s Action Line radio program, sharing stories about their work and the importance of safety in air medical transport.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are now investigating the crash of the Airbus Helicopter EC130T2. No further details about the cause have been released. NewsRadio WGNS will continue to follow this story and provide updates as the investigation unfolds.