A Minnesota State Patrol helicopter was on its way back from helping local law enforcement in Wabasha County when a duck crashed through the windshield, injuring one of the pilots.
By Mitchell Willetts
Source The Charlotte Observer
A police helicopter was forced to make a landing after a duck came crashing into the cockpit mid-flight, according to Minnesota State Patrol.
The state police chopper was on its way back from helping local law enforcement in Wabasha County in southeastern Minnesota around 10:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, when a duck suddenly smashed through the windshield, MSP spokesman Lt. Gordon Shank said in a tweet.
One of the pilots suffered a head injury and the collision left a massive hole in the windshield, exposing the cockpit.
Despite this, the pilots were able to safely land at the St. Paul Airport, Shank said.
The injured pilot hit by the duck was taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
It’s not clear what became of the duck, though a picture shared by Shank shows feathers scattered across the cockpit controls.
The damage done to the helicopter, a Bell 407, is “still being assessed,” Shank said.
