The four occupants of an ARA air rescue helicopter were startled on Saturday night by a collision with a pigeon. The helicopter, which was on the return flight from Augsburg to Reutte, had to make an emergency landing. The experienced pilot and his co made sure it didn’t get any worse.
The incident could have ended badly for the four occupants of the helicopter. At around 10:41 p.m., on the flight home from Augsburg to Reutte, a pigeon crashed into the cockpit window of the ARA air rescue ambulance helicopter RK-2. Due to the damage caused, the pilot had to make an emergency landing in a meadow near Bidingen (Bavaria). “This landing was carried out safely and professionally, the crew was never in danger and was not injured,” said ARA spokesman Thomas Jank. The helicopter stationed in Reutte was previously used on a transfer flight. So there was no patient on board.
Thanks to the German pilot Jörg Straub, nothing worse happened. According to Jank, he is one of the most experienced pilots in the entire ARA air rescue service: “Jörg Straub can look back on thousands of flying hours and has already flown countless spectacular and successful rescue missions in Tyrol.” Straub was supported by winch operator Hubert Dreer, who sat next to Straub in the cockpit.
Straub portrayed the “bird” objectively and calmly, as Jank puts it. The helicopter was probably traveling at about 200 km/h when the pigeon, which could not be seen at night, crashed into the window. The windshields in helicopters cannot be compared to the safety glass in cars, as the manufacturers have so far avoided it because of its weight.
Heli has been repaired, replacement provided
The helicopter was a type H145 helicopter with a winch that could fly at night. It can also perform winch rescues at night. The damaged helicopter will be repaired during the day and taken to the DRF Operation Center in Rheinmünster. The operational readiness of the ARA station in Reutte will be restored during the day by a replacement machine. The Austrian ARA Flugrettung, a non-profit limited company, operates professional emergency medicine with emergency helicopters in Reutte (Tyrol) and Fresach (Carinthia).
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
