Two Aircraft Hit By Gunfire
Right here in the U.S. Last Wednesday, an instructor and student were flying in a gyrocopter at about 800 feet over Springville, Utah, when they felt a “pop” and couldn’t tell what was wrong. During the 10-minute flight back to the airport, they heard a strange whistling sound, and on landing they found a bullet hole in the rotor. Then on Saturday night, a sheriff’s helicopter flying above an Albuquerque neighborhood to investigate a burglary was hit by a bullet that shattered the windshield. The pilot said he heard a pop and the helicopter lost power. He was able to land the aircraft in a backyard, but tore down trees and a fence along the way. Both men on board were hit by shrapnel and suffered minor impact injuries.
Right here in the U.S. Last Wednesday, an instructor and student were flying in a gyrocopter at about 800 feet over Springville, Utah, when they felt a "pop" and couldn't tell what was wrong. During the 10-minute flight back to the airport, they heard a strange whistling sound, and on landing they found a bullet hole in the rotor. Then on Saturday night, a sheriff's helicopter flying above an Albuquerque neighborhood to investigate a burglary was hit by a bullet that shattered the windshield. The pilot said he heard a pop and the helicopter lost power. He was able to land the aircraft in a backyard, but tore down trees and a fence along the way. Both men on board were hit by shrapnel and suffered minor impact injuries. "Let me be very clear, we intend to use every resource available to track down the coward who is responsible for committing this sick and twisted act," Sheriff Darren White told The Associated Press.
