The New York Police Department says mechanical problems probably caused one of its helicopters to made an emergency water landing in Jamaica Bay off Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field Wednesday afternoon.
Officials say the aircraft landed around 3:45 p.m. and was carrying a three man flight crew, two scuba divers and a trainee.

All were taken to the hospital for observation. Only one suffered minor injuries.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says the helicopter is part of the NYPD’s aviation fleet, and was providing security for President Barack Obama’s trip to the United Nations.

"The helicopter was in the air cause the president was en route to Kennedy Airport, then he was going to fly, and did in fact fly, in his helicopter from Kennedy to Wall Street," Kelly said.

Police say the crew was heading back to its base on Floyd Bennett field to refuel when the pilot heard a loud noise. The aircraft then started losing elevation, falling about 60 feet before hitting the water.

Police say the chopper’s automatic flotation devices inflated upon impact. However, the force of the landing was strong enough to smash the aircraft’s windshield and bend one of its rotor blades.

The aircraft first went into service less than a year ago and is one of seven currently being used by the department, NYPD officials said.

As for the pilot, she is described as very experienced having logged more than 1,000 hours in the air.

The National Transportation Safety Board will examine the chopper to try to determine what caused the malfunction. source

– Cliquez ici pour voir le reportage.