An unknown offender shot at a US Air Force helicopter near Manassas, Virginia, on Monday August 10, 2020. One of two pilots aboard a USAF UH-1N helicopter was wounded, according to the United States Air Force.
The UH-1N was flying 10 miles northwest of Manassas, Virginia at an altitude of 1,000 feet during a routine training mission when the shooting occurred. The helicopter landed safely at Manassas Regional Airport west of Washington, DC, and the pilot was transported to hospital treated and released, according to the United States Air Force.
The airport operations officer Richard Allabaugh reported its air traffic control tower was notified of an “an onboard emergency on a military helicopter that was inbound.”
The incident is now under USAF and FBI investigation (Washington Field Office) to determine whether the helicopter was deliberately targeted or whether someone was randomly shooting into the air. The aircraft will be closely inspected for other damage, the official added.
The US Air Force 316th wing confirmed that an incident occurred, reporting, “A UH-1N Huey helicopter assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews conducted an emergency landing at 12:43 pm on August 10th in Manassas, Va during a routine training mission.”
The FBI urges that anyone near this area 10 miles northwest of Manassas, Virginia at the time of the incident, with any possible information, call the FBI at 202-278-2000.
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