Bird strike forces air ambulance to make emergency landing in Peak District

An air ambulance was forced to make an emergency landing in the Peak District yesterday (April 22) after a bird strike.
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The crew of the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance were on their way back from a mission to its airbase at East Midlands Airport when their helicopter hit a bird.

The helicopter an AgustaWestland109 was forced to make an emergency landing in the Peak District close to Carsington Water at around 1.30pm yesterday, after the strike caused extensive damage to the cockpit window.

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A spokesperson for the charity said: “All crew have emergency operating procedures for incidents, and these were followed methodically.

An air ambulance was forced to make an emergency landing in the Peak District yesterday following a bird strike. Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images.An air ambulance was forced to make an emergency landing in the Peak District yesterday following a bird strike. Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images.
An air ambulance was forced to make an emergency landing in the Peak District yesterday following a bird strike. Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images.

"The crew of the helicopter are very experienced and ensured the safe landing of the damaged aircraft.”

No one was injured and the helicopter will be assessed by engineers to determine its airworthiness before it returns to operational duties.

The Air Ambulance Service, who stressed that bird strikes on helicopters are ‘very rare’, also thanked the landowner for their support.

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