Chopper 2 makes emergency landing after striking bird in Wisconsin
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chopper 2 narrowly avoided a disaster thanks to some incredible piloting, after a bird strike forced an emergency landing on Wednesday.
Pilot Mike Sypien was flying the CBS 2 news helicopter back to Chicago from a routine maintenance check in Kenosha, Wisconsin, when a bird struck the helicopter around 11:15 a.m.
A seagull shattered the windscreen, and struck Sypien in the face.
Sypien was able to keep the helicopter aloft, and avoided nearby power lines to land safely in a field in Pleasant Prairie, not far from Kenosha.
Sypien suffered some abrasions, but otherwise was not seriously injured. Photographer Paul Buscemi was in the back of the helicopter at the time, but was not hurt.
"One of my helpers is a paramedic, went right over to the pilot, and the first thing the pilot said was to check my passenger. He was really, really in control of the situation," said Kari Nevek, who owns the farm where Sypien landed.
Pleasant Prairie Fire and Rescue Department assistant chief David Wilkinson said Sypien declined medical treatment.
CBS 2's Kris Habermehl said, while smaller birds like starlings or sparrows would just bounce off the windscreen if they were to hit a helicopter in midflight, larger birds like seagulls could crash right through if flying at just the right angle, if the helicopter is traveling at nearly 100 mph.
According to FAA data, 84 bird strikes involving aircraft have been reported in Wisconsin so far this year, and 225 were reported in 2022. In Illinois, 323 bird strikes have been reported to the FAA this year, and 643 were reported in 2022.