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RAF Merlin Heavy Landing in El Centro

  • 10-11-2009 7:53pm
    #1
    Steyr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,266 ✭✭✭


    Glad nobody was hurt!

    **Picture In Link**

    http://www.ivpressonline.com/articles/2009/11/10/local_news/news01.txt

    RAF officials to investigate helicopter landing in Holtville airstrip, official says
    By SILVIO J. PANTA, Staff Writer

    Tuesday, November 10, 2009 1:43 AM PST

    HOLTVILLE — A Royal Air Force investigative unit is expected here today to find out why a transport helicopter landed and tipped over early Monday, a Naval Air Facility El Centro spokeswoman said.
    The pilot of the Merlin helicopter, which carries up to 20 people, was in control at the time the aircraft “hard-landed” during a training exercise at the air strip off Norrish Road, NAF spokeswoman Michelle Dee said.

    Holtville Fire Chief Alex Silva said the helicopter was destroyed when an emergency landing was made and the aircraft tipped over on its side. The helicopter did not burst into flames but left three flight crew members with injuries, Silva said.

    One of the crew members suffered two broken legs during the 2:30 a.m. accident and was flown to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Silva said. The crew member’s condition was not immediately known.

    Another flight crew member of the RAF’s Merlin helicopter suffered fractured ribs while another had a complaint of back pain, Silva said. They were both taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center, where their conditions were not available, Silva said.

    Firefighters from Holtville and the NAF rushed to the area, Silva said. The investigative team that will examine the wreckage is coming from England, Dee said.

    The helicopter was being flown in a nighttime training exercise, RAF spokeswoman and Wing Cmdr. Julie Parry said in a telephone interview from England. Silva said it appeared that a mechanical problem occurred during the exercise but that possibility will be investigated, Parry said.

    The exercise was aimed at training British crew members, who are slated for deployment to Afghanistan in three weeks, on transporting troops and supplies during nighttime missions, Parry said.

    The dozen crew members in the helicopter are among 80 RAF members who have been training for three to four months in preparation for their deployment, Parry said.


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