‘Air Angels: Flight Helene’ brings volunteer rescue missions to TV audiences this weekend

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A new documentary highlighting volunteer pilots who helped deliver lifesaving aid to Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene is set to make its broadcast television premiere this weekend on WWAY.

Air Angels: Flight Helene features the stories of people who used their own aircraft to reach communities cut off by flooding, mudslides and damaged roads. Among those featured are local pilots Zeb Hadley and Dr. Craig McCotter, who spoke with WWAY about why they felt compelled to help.

McCotter said the effort began as reports and pleas for help spread across social media.

“We started hearing all the reports, getting people crying for help on social media, and all of a sudden it just started to evolve from there,” McCotter said.

Hadley said he was already traveling toward Asheville to check on family when he saw the scale of the devastation from the air.

“I just saw the mass devastation and realized that there was a lot of work to do,” Hadley said. “So we stuck around for about seven days just trying to take care of business, starting out saving lives and then transporting food and supplies.”

Hadley said they initially brought basic items but quickly began coordinating larger supply runs after landing at a fire station and asking responders what was most needed.

“They gave us a list of supplies, medical supplies,” he said. “When I got in the air, I sent it to my wife. She put it on Facebook, and we were able to get the supplies.”

McCotter said the response expanded through a network of pilots across North Carolina who shared requests and coordinates in real time.

“There were all these requests for people who needed to be checked on,” McCotter said. “People needed food supplies, medical gear. We’re part of a bigger network of pilots, and people started organizing through social media.”

Both men said seeing the damage firsthand was overwhelming, but the urgency of helping others quickly took over.

“After the first initial reaction, you realize there were serious issues and people needed help,” Hadley said. “You’re there to help people, get supplies to areas, help get people out.”

The documentary also explores how the experience affected those involved. McCotter said his role was just one small part of a much larger effort.

“There were so many people who took off a week, 10 days, and did nothing but dedicate themselves,” he said. “Seeing what everybody did was absolutely amazing.”

Hadley said the experience left him with a renewed sense of hope.

“There was no divide. Everybody was human and we were there for one purpose,” he said. “It gave me a renewed sense of humanity.”

Air Angels: Flight Helene airs in two parts. The first is this Sunday at 7:30 a.m. on the Cape Fear CW 3.3, 8:30 a.m. on WWAY CBS 3.2, and 10:30 a.m. on WWAY ABC 3.1. The second part will air at the same times next Sunday, February 22.

The documentary is produced by Just Do GOOD Entertainment, which also produced Divine Renovation with Erik Estrada, which was filmed in Wilmington.