Bird strike causes havoc for DPD’s Air One

The Dallas Police Department’s Air One helicopter made an emergency landing Monday night by Lake Ray Hubbard.

Shortly before midnight on Monday, the police helicopter was called to the lake to search for a missing fisherman. While conducting the search, a bird struck the windshield of the helicopter, penetrating into the cockpit and hitting the pilot, Sergeant Todd Limerick, in the head. The co-pilot, Senior Corporal Laurent Lespagnol, took over control of the helicopter and safely landed it on the nearby lake shores. Sgt. Limerick is recovering at Baylor University Medical Center.

The police helicopter was flown to its hangar at Dallas Executive Airport after a mechanic performed repairs to the windshield. The fisherman was found safe.