Chinook crew ask for directions after emergency landing
Just saw this from the Daily Mail:-
RAF pilots operating a Chinook helicopter were forced to make an emergency
landing in a village playing field - before asking stunned locals for
directions.
The three relieved airmen had to land the 12-tonne chopper after hitting a
bird, military chiefs admitted.
Then, to add to their embarrassment, they had to take out a road map to try
and figure out where they were.
Grandmother Pat Taylor, 70, saw the incident while ironing in her kitchen 50
yards away and thought the helicopter was about to crash into her house in
Stoke by Clare, Suffolk.
She said today: ‘It was quite terrifying when it came down. I heard this
terrific noise and thought “It is going to crash.” It was such a relief when
they were able to make a controlled landing.
‘These three gorgeous young men emerged looking quite concerned so I asked
if they wanted a cup of tea or to use the toilet.
‘It was very amusing when they went and got a road map and asked where they
were.’
The three confused airmen said they had hit a bird, which is quite common
when flying below fifty feet, which caused the engine to catch fire.
Excitement in the village reached fever pitch when a second Chinook landed
nearby to drop off a mechanic, before both helicopters set off back to base
at RAF Wattisham.
Pupils outside on their lunch break at nearby independent school Stoke
College were also thrilled to see the unexpected visitors drop in.
Head teacher John Gibson said: ‘They did see it and the younger ones were
quite excited because it is something different.’
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Chinook made a
precautionary landing following a bird strike.