Federal officials are investigating after a U.S. Air Force helicopter on a routine training mission was shot at in Virginia on Monday, causing an injury to one of the craft’s crew members.
An Air Force UH-1N Huey helicopter was conducting a routine training mission when it was struck by a bullet a little before 1 p.m. Monday, an Air Force official not authorized to speak publicly said.
The helicopter was about 1,000 feet above ground and heading for the Manassas Regional Airport and the shot was fired near Middleburg, Va, the official added.
FBI agents were dispatched to the Manassas Regional Airport after the bureau received reports that the helicopter was shot from the ground, the FBI Washington Field Office (WFO) said in a statement to USA TODAY.
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The person who was injured suffered a “non-threatening injury, for which he was treated and subsequently released from the hospital,” according to the bureau.
“WFO is working jointly with our law enforcement partners, including the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the field office said in a statement.
The incident was first reported by McClatchy.
A Joint Base Andrews spokesperson confirmed the helicopter is assigned to the base’s 1st Helicopter Squadron and added “initial findings are that the helicopter was struck by a bullet resulting in a minor injury to an aircrew member and damage to the aircraft.”
“The FBI asks that anyone near this area at the time of the incident who may have information please call the FBI at 202-278-2000,” the FBI Washington Field Office said in a statement.
Contributing: Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY
Source Article from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/08/12/us-air-force-helicopter-shot-over-virginia-fbi-investigating/3359749001/
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