On Easter Sunday morning, Maryland State Police Aviation Command’s Trooper 5 sprang into action for a dramatic mountain rescue in Front Royal, Virginia. A hiker had plummeted 60 feet off the rocky cliffs of Buzzard Rock, leaving them stranded in steep, inaccessible terrain. Due to the dangerous conditions and lengthy ground extrication time, an aerial hoist was the only option.

In a precise and coordinated operation, the crew aboard Trooper 5 hoisted the injured hiker from the cliffside and transported them to Winchester Medical Center for urgent medical care. The successful mission underscores the importance of cross-jurisdiction collaboration and showcases the incredible skill and bravery of first responders—earning admiration not just in Virginia, but from around the world.