2 officers injured after police helicopter crashes near Atlanta
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Two officers were injured Friday when their police helicopter crashed at the Gwinnett County Airport, CBS affiliate WGCL-TV in Atlanta reports.
The helicopter was helping chase a suspect when it ran into strong winds from an oncoming storm. The chopper then headed back to the airport hangar and was 200 yards away when it went down, Gwinnett County spokesperson Michele Pihera told the station.
Firefighters helped free one officer who was trapped inside the helicopter. Both occupants were transported to a Lawrenceville hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Gwinnett County is located about 37 miles northeast of Atlanta.
The Federal Aviation Administration will send personnel to the scene to investigate, agency spokesperson Kathleen Bergen told the Associated Press.
Images posted by the Gwinnett Police Department Twitter account showed wreckage from scene, a grassy field outside the county airport.
"The outpouring of support for our officers has been tremendous. Thanks for sending prayers and well-wishes," the department said on Twitter.
