Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Chopper Brought Down in Alaska by Hostile Action

From the Anchorage Daily News:
A routine flight to tag a cow moose took a bizarre turn this weekend when the tranquilized animal charged the tail section of a hovering helicopter, collided with the rear rotor and brought down the aircraft.

The injured animal was euthanized at the scene.

The incident happened near the southeast town of Gustavus late Saturday afternoon, and baffled officials with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Democratic leaders of Congress have begun issuing calls for the Bush administration to set a timetable for withdrawing all Game Wardens from Alaska.