Dispatches, June 2026
Dispatches shares stories from the patients, supporters, crew, and communities that make LifeFlight of Maine one of the premier air ambulance services in the nation. It is published three times each year by The LifeFlight Foundation.
Updates from the Flightdeck
Dear Friends,
Every day across Maine — on rural roads, remote islands, and in small community hospitals — lives hang in the balance. In those critical moments, when time and distance become barriers to access to care, there is one constant: LifeFlight of Maine.
For nearly three decades, LifeFlight has ensured that no matter where you live, who you are, or what you can afford, you have access to lifesaving care. It is a promise rooted in equity, compassion, and the belief that every life matters.
Today, that promise has never been more essential. Maine’s healthcare system is under strain.
Rural hospitals are struggling to maintain essential services. More than half no longer deliver babies. Access to specialized care — cardiac, surgical, neonatal — is increasingly limited. In this environment, LifeFlight is no longer just a transport service. It is a critical link in Maine’s healthcare infrastructure.
In the pages that follow, you will read a story about one family’s multigenerational ties to Maine, and how all that might have changed in an instant were it not for LifeFlight. You’ll learn about how LifeFlight employees give more than just their all every day and night on the job — they share your commitment to making sure the organization has the resources it needs to always be ready. You’ll see some new faces who are helping to move LifeFlight forward, and you’ll hear how LifeFlight crew members are mentoring the next generation of critical care providers.
Many of you reached out in the wake of the tragic mass casualty incident at the Robbins Lumber Mill in Searsmont. Your concern for those affected and for our teams meant a great deal to us. In the midst of a rapidly unfolding and extraordinarily challenging situation, six LifeFlight crews from all three of our bases mobilized alongside local and regional partners.
As they always do, our clinicians delivered ICU-level care where it was needed most — calmly, skillfully, and with remarkable focus in the face of uncertainty and chaos. Preparedness is the promise we make before the call ever comes.
Moments like this make clear what is at stake — and what your support makes possible. Because of you, our teams are ready: trained, equipped, and able to respond immediately when Maine needs us most. Thank you for being part of our LifeFlight community.
Sincerely,
Joe Kellner, CEO
LifeFlight of Maine
Kate O’Halloran, Executive Director
The LifeFlight Foundation
