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U.S. military helicopter forced to make emergency landing in central Bucharest
Giulia Carbonaro

A U.S. Black Hawk helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in a street in downtown Bucharest, Romania, on Thursday.

The pilot managed to make a safe landing, with no casualties reported by authorities. But two electricity poles were knocked down by the air pressure created by the helicopter's propeller.

 

The air pressure from the helicopter's propeller took down two electricity poles. /Daniel Mihailescu/AFP

The air pressure from the helicopter's propeller took down two electricity poles. /Daniel Mihailescu/AFP

 

The U.S. helicopter was one of six rehearsing ahead of Romanian Air Force day on July 20, which will also mark the end of Romania's military presence in Afghanistan.

The emergency landing, caused by an apparent loss of power, was made safely on a roundabout that traffic police had rapidly cleared for the purpose.

 

Military personnel inspect the Black Hawk helicopter at Charles de Gaulle square in Bucharest. /Daniel Mihailescu/AFP

Military personnel inspect the Black Hawk helicopter at Charles de Gaulle square in Bucharest. /Daniel Mihailescu/AFP

"We are working with our Romanian partners to resolve the situation and we will provide more information as it becomes available," said the U.S. embassy in a statement following the incident.

The Romanian defense ministry has meanwhile announced no military aircraft will be present at the ceremonies next Tuesday.

 

Cover image: Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea via Reuters

Source(s): Reuters ,AFP

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