Dallas Police Helicopter Struck By Bird

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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The pilot of a Dallas police helicopter received minor injuries after the aircraft struck a bird late Monday night. The incident happened while authorities were searching for two people who had been in a boat that capsized on Lake Ray Hubbard.

The helicopter was launched to assist in the search for those missing boaters. While the chopper was in the air, the bird collided with the aircraft and went through the windshield, said Warren Mitchell with the Dallas Police Department.

The impact sent some glass fragments into the pilot's face.

The co-pilot was able to put the chopper down in Elgin Robertson Park, near the intersection of Cooke Drive and Pecan Lane. The pilot was then taken to a nearby hospital to receive treatment for injuries from the flying glass -- mainly cuts to his face and arms.

The pilot, identified as Sgt. T. Limerick on Twitter, said that he is "bruised, bloody and sore," but otherwise fine.

The bird landed in the backseat of the helicopter and was pronounced dead at the scene. Maj. Max Geron of the Dallas Police Department later said on Twitter that the animal was an American coot, similar to a duck in appearance. Check out Geron's Twitter page for more pictures.

The aircraft's windshield was patched up at the scene and then flown to a police hangar for repairs.

Meanwhile, the missing boaters were found to be safe. They managed to swim ashore and were not injured.