A new Helene documentary premieres in North Carolina this weekend

A new Helene documentary, “Air Angels: Flight Helene,” tells the story of North Carolina residents who used their private planes and resources to help out after Helene devastated western NC.

A documentary about one of the worst natural disasters in North Carolina history will premiere on a Wilmington television station and its affiliates.

“Air Angels: Flight Helene,” which filmed in the Wilmington area in 2025 and features Wilmington residents, premieres 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, on WWAY (ABC). The documentary will also be shown on WWAY affiliate DWAY (CBS) at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 15 and on EWAY (The CW) at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 15.

Repeat broadcasts are 7:30 a.m. Feb. 22 on EWAY, 8:30 a.m. Feb. 22 on DWAY and 10:30 a.m. Feb. 22 on WWAY according to a news release from Wilmington’s Just Do Good Entertainment, which produced the documentary. Coastal Kia of Wilmington is a presenting sponsor of the film.

Originally envisioned as a television series, the 30-minute documentary focuses on the “Air Angels” of the title, private citizens who used their own aircraft and resources for rescues and other means of support after Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina in late September of 2024.

According to the release, the documentary features Dr. Craig McCotter, a cardiologist with Wilmington Health, “who volunteered in civilian-led aerial missions and piloted his own Robinson Helicopter R‑44 Clipper II to reach communities cut off by catastrophic flooding and destruction.”

The documentary “Air Angels: Flight Helene” will premiere on Wilmington TV station WWAY and its affiliates on Feb. 15, 2026. (USA Today via Reuters)

Also featured are two Wilmington-area residents, Zeb Hadley, CEO of commercial painting and sandblasting company National Coatings, and Steve Garin, a pilot with American Airlines, “both of whom flew multiple relief missions using their personal aircraft.”

“Air Angels” tells the stories of how private pilots rescued stranded people and pets, and provided essentials like medication and food.

“Air Angels: Flight Helene” was produced by Monty Hobbs, Valerie Smaldone, and Jay Batchler with Just Do Good Entertainment, which also shot the faith-based home improvement series “Divine Renovation,” hosted by the actor Erik Estrada, in Wilmington.

Just Do Good Entertainment focuses on creating “compelling content that inspires and enacts change by doing good for others,” according to the release.

“Divine Renovation,” a religious- and community-themed home improvement show that provided repairs to those in need, is currently available on Tubi, Roku, Amazon, UP Faith & Family and other platforms.

The company has also produced faith-based feature films, including “The Thursday Night Club” with singer Gloria Gaynor.

Reporting by John Staton, Wilmington StarNews / Wilmington StarNews

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect