Posted on 01/02/2007 6:03:24 PM PST by La Enchiladita
(AP) SAN DIEGO, Calif. Authorities say all nine people aboard a National Guard helicopter were injured Tuesday afternoon when the chopper crashed near the U.S./Mexico border.
San Diego sheriff's Lieutenant Dave Myers says the helicopter went down in the Otay Mountain area east of San Diego.
A Border Patrol helicopter landed near the accident site to transport three injured people.
The injured were reportedly being transported to a hospital in San Diego. The injuries are described as moderate to major.
The helicopter came to rest on its belly, its top rotor snapped off and what appeared to be its tail thrust to its side.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
at least they're alive... that's an ending you don't see enough for crashes
So far so good. We don't know their condition; it's a breaking story even though I put it in the front page cuz my chances are better to keep it there..
All otay on Otay ... Buckwheat sends ...
In case you guys are interested ...
Thank God!
Must be a soft mountain...
Hey,Dita,,,TANKS for the thread,,,,That's ruff country if I remember rite,,,Also a major route from the south...
Prayers up.
Definitely, thank you. I saw an alert while I was cooking dinner. Prayers for the passengers.
Hope they all recover OK, not sure what circumstances were but kudos to the crew for bringing it down as well as they did
From the looks of the wreckage, the pilot managed to do something resembling an autorotation landing. They hit fairly hard, but not out of control. They're right near one of the repeater sites on the mountain, and there's power lines in the vicinity, so there's some speculation about a line strike.
Yes, COUNT, it's still the wild frontier... very rugged terrain.
And, HOOAH NEW YEAR to you!!
thanks for the ping Ladita.
I watched this live on local news when it just happened.
Some of the choppers bringing them up to the hospitals, came by my apt. as I am up the street from two huge hospitals and medical centers. Am in the city around 15+ miles north where this happened near the border area.
ping
also see my post #14
Did they say where they are from....hubby's unit has 2 choppers there..
Thanks for the ping. I was talking on the phone with family when it happened.
Black Hawk?
More info, but probably not as specific as you are looking for:
* * * * * * * * * * * *
By Allison Hoffman
Associated Press Writer
San Diego -- A California National Guard helicopter ferrying Border Patrol agents crashed near the U.S.-Mexico border on Tuesday, injuring all nine people aboard, authorities said.
Five Border Patrol agents and four members of the Guard were aboard the UH-1 helicopter, said Col. Dave Baldwin, director of planning and operations for the California National Guard.
Five people with neck and back injuries were airlifted to hospitals, said Jan Caldwell, spokeswoman for the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
Sheriff's Lt. Dave Myers said injuries were described as moderate to major.
The helicopter, one of the older models in use by the Guard, was on a routine mission, Baldwin said, transporting agents either to or from a remote site along the border.
It went down in the Otay Mountain area east of San Diego and came to rest on its belly, its top rotor snapped off and what appeared to be its tail thrust to its side.
A National Guard accident investigation team was en route to the site.
California National Guard Capt. Mike Morgan said the UH-1 was on a mission for Operation Jumpstart, transporting Border Patrol agents to mountainous areas inaccessible by vehicle.
There have been at least 100 such missions since the operation began in July, Morgan said.
The flights operate out of Brown Field in San Diego or the Navy base at Coronado in San Diego Bay.
Morgan said the missions are "relatively safe," with weather usually being the major concern.
The operation stems from a plan announced in May 2006 by President Bush to deploy up to 6,000 National Guard troops along the U.S.-Mexico border for about two years to help local and federal law enforcement to stop illegal immigration.
UH1 is a Huey....for heavens sake.....I thought they were all *retired*.....can't be hubby's unit they fly Blackhawks.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.