The co-pilot of a Dallas Police Department helicopter is being hailed as a hero after he had to make an emergency landing following a bird strike over Lake Ray Hubbard Monday night.
According to Dallas police, Sgt. Todd Limerick and co-pilot Senior Cpl. Laurent Lespagnol were responding to a call of a possible capsized boat. They were over the lake when an American Coot crashed through the windshield of the helicopter, striking Limerick in the face.
On Tuesday, Lespagnol described the moment the roughly three-pound bird struck the helicopter.
“Loud, loud, loud,” Lespagnol said. “Kind of an explosion type deal, loud boom. Like I said, not knowing if the engine had gone out or what, it was just interesting.”
Limerick was bleeding and handed control of the chopper to Lespagnol, who maneuvered in the dark around power lines to bring it safely to the ground. Lespagnol admits it was scary.
“Absolutely, I would be crazy not to say it wasn’t chaotic and like I said the main thing was bring the aircraft down and get him medical attention because there was blood all over,” Lespagnol said. Dallas police are now calling Lespagnol a hero.
Dallas Police Deputy Chief Scott Walton said not every time DPD Air One flies are there two licensed pilots aboard, and in this instance Lespagnol’s skills and training assisted in safely landing the helicopter.
Lespagnol told reports his main concern was getting the helicopter to the ground so his partner could receive medical attention. Paramedics transported Limerick to Baylor University Medical Center. Lespagnol told NBC 5 that Limerick suffered a broken nose and facial bruises.
Limerick tweeted that he was feeling better just after midnight.
He was released Tuesday morning and is expected to be OK.
Crews used tape to repair the windshield of the helicopter so it could be flown back for more permanent repairs at the Dallas Executive Airport, where it’s housed.
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Police said they later found the capsized boat Limerick was searching for. The boater was found safe as well.
NBC 5 previously reported the bird was a duck, not a coot. We regret the error.
