Police helicopter collision injures 6 in Pasadena
A New York Police Department helicopter hovers over the East River before landing after a helicopter crash on October 4, 2011 in New York City during a birthday joyride.
Two police helicopters collided over a Pasadena helipad Saturday, leaving five police officers and a civilian with minor injuries.
The incident happened at 4:10 p.m. local time at the Pasadena Police Department's helipad, about 1.5 miles north of the Rose Bowl, according to NBC News. It involved a police patrol chopper and a helicopter assigned to monitor traffic leaving a football game that was part of the tournament.
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The collision is believed to have occurred when the rotator blades of a helicopter that was landing touched those of one that was taking off, reported the Associated Press. It caused extensive damage to both aircrafts, crumpling the tail and breaking the blades of one, and causing the blade to fall off the other. The weather was drizzly and cloudy at the time of the accident.
All six people involved were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries, according to the Pasadena Sun.
"We were real lucky," said Pasadena Police Lt. Phlunte Riddle.
Riddle also said the injured included a pilot and an observer in each of the Bell OH-58A helicopters, as well as two officers on the ground, noted the AP. One of the observers was a civilian.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the collision.
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