February 20, 2009

Border Protection chopper makes emergency landing


SAN ONOFRE, Calif. - Three people were hurt on Thursday when a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter made an emergency forced landing on San Onofre State Beach, authorities said.

The McDonnell Douglas 600 helicopter had taken off from Long Beach Airport en route to Brown Field airport in San Diego when the pilot experienced engine trouble, said U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Vincent Bond. The pilot brought the chopper down on the beach near the San Onofre nuclear power plant, Bond said.

The three crew members on board, all U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees, were taken to area hospitals with non life-threatening injuries, Bond said. The helicopter suffered significant damage.

The helicopter was on a routine patrol mission at the time of the forced landing, Bond said. He said the chopper is used for general surveillance to support U.S. Border Patrol missions.

The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified and will investigate, Bond said.

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