A helicopter pilot was forced into an emergency landing after a dive bombing seagull crashed through his windshield and smashed him in the face.
Stunned Mike Sypien had been flying with photographer Paul Buscemi from Kenosha, Wisconsin State, to Chicago on 18th October when he was hit by the huge bird.
Sypien was forced to make an emergency landing in a field in Pleasant Prairie after desperately dodging power lines.
Pictures show the ‘copter with a huge hole in its windscreen and a dead gull lying on the ground.
Local Fire and Rescue said in a statement obtained by Newsflash on 18th October: “A helicopter doing photography in the area was heading back to Chicago when it encountered a bird strike and had to perform a controlled landing in the farm field adjacent to the 9100 block of Hwy H. Pleasant Prairie Police Department and Fire units responded.
“The pilot and passenger, despite being shook-up, had no significant injuries.
“The FAA has been contacted. The pilot and passenger were evaluated by EMS and were not transported.”
Kari Nevek, owner of the field where pilot Sypien landed, told local media: “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.”
Chief David Wilkinson of Pleasant Prairie Fire and Rescue also praised the pilot saying: “We know that he was traveling at a good speed en route southbound after leaving the airport, and took the bird strike and was able to calm and collectively land in a field without having to disrupt any traffic or cause anybody harm.”
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Story By: Marija Stojkoska, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash
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