http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=5443001

Army Guard helicopter hits power lines, makes emergency landing

DOUGLAS, Ariz. -- A pilot and a U.S. Border Patrol agent suffered minor injuries Thursday when the Army National Guard helicopter they were aboard hit power lines and was forced to make an emergency landing east of here, authorities said.

The Cochise County Sheriff's Department said the helicopter was on fire when deputies arrived on the scene about a quarter-mile from State Route 80 just before 3 p.m. MST.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Carol Capas said the Border Patrol agent and the National Guard pilot suffered "minor injuries _ cuts and abrasions" and were not seriously injured. Their identities were not immediately released.

Maj. Paul Aguirre, an Arizona National Guard spokesman, said the agent and pilot were taken to an area hospital for precautionary measures and observation.

Aguirre said the OH-58 observation helicopter was supporting Customs and Border Protection as part of Operation Jump Start _ President Bush's initiative to put 6,000 National Guard troops in support of Border Patrol operations along the Mexican border.

"We are very fortunate that neither the pilot nor Border Patrol Agent were seriously injured," said Brig. Gen. Ulay Littleton, Joint Task Force commander for Operation Jump Start in Arizona. "The OH-58 was operating as part of Operation Jump Start which has provided observational aviation support to the Border Patrol in southern Arizona."