Jordan Seidhom, a former cop and volunteer firefighter, found himself in an unexpected showdown while trying to save lives in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Using his personal helicopter, Seidhom had been working tirelessly to reach stranded victims cut off from rescue teams, especially in areas like Lake Lure, North Carolina. But while in the middle of rescuing an elderly couple, his heroic efforts were halted—not by bad weather or mechanical failure, but by a fire department official threatening him with arrest.
Seidhom had already rescued Susan Coffey from her home and safely brought her to a nearby parking lot. His plan was to return for her husband Michael and his son Landon, who was assisting him as his co-pilot. Given the size of his two-seater chopper, Seidhom had to make multiple trips to evacuate everyone. But that’s when the rescue mission took a sharp turn.
Upon landing in the parking lot, Seidhom was confronted by a senior official from the local fire department who, according to Seidhom, was not pleased that he hadn’t coordinated with their rescue efforts.
The official reportedly shut down the operation on the spot, telling Seidhom that if he attempted to return to the mountain to collect Michael and Landon, he would be arrested for “interfering” with their rescue operation.
Seidhom, however, had already been working with law enforcement and rescue teams, and he couldn’t understand why his efforts were being blocked. In a tense conversation, he tried to explain the situation, but the fire official was adamant. Even after Seidhom explained that his son was still on the mountain, the official refused to budge, calling over two law enforcement officers who also threatened him with arrest if he flew back.
In a tough position, Seidhom eventually had to return to the airport, leaving Michael Coffey behind while ensuring he got his son back. But the whole situation weighed heavily on him. “I was legal in what I was doing,” Seidhom told WJZY, stating that he followed all FAA guidelines and airspace regulations.
Yet, despite his efforts, he was forced to leave people behind, a decision that didn’t sit right with him. “If I had to do it over again, I would have stopped and rescued as many people as possible until they decided they were going to arrest me.”
Seidhom’s frustration reached a boiling point when, just 30 minutes after the confrontation, a temporary flight restriction was placed over the Lake Lure area, effectively blocking any further helicopter rescues. He believes this decision put lives at risk. As he and his son left the area, they saw more stranded victims waving for help, but there was nothing they could do.
The Coffeys eventually made it to safety, with Michael Coffey later posting on social media that he had to swim across a river to reach safety. But the question remains: could more lives have been saved if the rescue operation hadn’t been interrupted?
Seidhom’s story highlights the tension between independent rescuers and official emergency operations. While coordination is key during disasters, Seidhom’s firsthand account raises concerns about the balance between protocol and the urgent need to save lives. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, it’s clear that not all heroes wear capes—or, in this case, coordinate with fire chiefs. Sometimes, they just take to the skies.
