Blackhawk Hits Drone Over New York

Editorial Staff

Sunday, September 24, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

An Army Blackhawk helicopter collided with a drone over Staten Island, New York City, on Thursday evening.
The incident occurred at approximately 500 feet while the helicopter was providing security for the U.N. General Assembly, resulting in marks on its fuselage and rotor blades, and debris in the oil cooler.
Despite the damage, mechanics replaced the rotor blades, and the Blackhawk was returned to service the very next day.

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The Army has confirmed that one of its Blackhawk helicopters hit a drone while patrolling over New York City on Thursday. The collision occurred about 7:30 p.m. over Staten Island, Fox News reported. The station obtained photos of the marks left behind by the drone along with one of its rotor arms. Debris was found in the oil cooler and there were marks on the fuselage and rotor blades.

The helicopter was at about 500 feet providing security for the U.N. General Assembly when it hit the drone, said Lt. Col. Joe Buccino of the 82nd Airborne in Fort Bragg. Mechanics swapped out the rotor blades and put the Blackhawk into service the next day.