Panama Navy helicopter crew survive accident
AN-136 was flying from Santiago towards Panama Pacifico Airport when it hit a flock of birds.
Panama’s National Air and Naval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval) has reported on an accident suffered by one of its helicopters at approximately 14:45 hrs on 22 May. An EC145 helicopter, registration AN-136, was flying from Santiago in Veraguas Province towards Panama Pacifico Airport in the nation’s capital when it hit a flock of birds. The impact caused a loss of thrust in the tail rotor, which the pilot recognised and controlled during an emergency landing on a beach in the Punta Chame area, said the Service. Images shared by the local media showed the aircraft lying on its side at the water’s edge.
The crew of AN-136, under the command of pilot Major Oriel Reyes, had been flying back to base after completing a humanitarian search and rescue mission earlier in the day with the Joint Task Force. The mission, which also involved personnel from the National Civil Protection System, as well as National Air and Naval Service SAR units, was launched following reports of a two-year-old child who was missing after flash flooding of Viguí River in Chiriquí Province.
The crew was unharmed, said the Service.