FBI investigating shooting of Air Force Helicopter in Virginia
The FBI is investigating the shooting of a United States Air Force helicopter on Monday during a training mission in Northern Virginia. One crew member suffered undisclosed injuries as a result of the shooting.
According to a press release, the UH-1N was assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews and supports the movement of the president and other senior government officials to and from Andrews, where Air Force One is also based. According to first reporting by McClachy, the HN-1N was on a training mission with a full crew when it was stuck by a single bullet, believed to be shot from the ground.
One crew member was injured, and was treated and released. The helicopter suffered some damage as a result of the shooting and was forced to make an emergency landing at the Manassas Regional Airport. According to the McClachy article, officials at the airport received around 12:20 saying that a military helicopter was on inbound and paramedics were dispatched.
The FBI “dispatched Special Agents and its Evidence Response Team to the Manassas Airport after receiving reports that a helicopter was shot at from the ground nearby,” the FBI’s Washington Field Office said in a statement.
“The FBI Washington Field Office is working jointly with our law enforcement partners, including the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. One individual in the helicopter sustained a non-threatening injury, for which he was treated and subsequently released from the hospital,” the FBI said in a statement, asking that “anyone near this area at the time of the incident who may have information please call the FBI at 202-278-2000.”
“The Office of Special Investigations is fully engaged with our FBI colleagues on this incident. OSI take threats to our Airmen and our resources very seriously. As this is an ongoing investigation, no further investigative details can be released at this time,” Joint Base Andrews said.
The 1st Helicopter squadron has approximately 120 aircrew members, 22 helicopters and flies more than 5,000 mission hours providing “local airlift for senior military and civilian leaders, high-ranking dignitaries, distinguished visitors, Defense Support of Civil Authorities, and emergency medical evacuation,” according to their website.
