An S92 helicopter was forced into an emergency-landing in east Jeddah recently because a small bird was sucked into its engine resulting in a system malfunction. The helicopter crew skillfully managed to land in a rugged mountainous location. Maj. Gen. Pilot Muhammad Bin Eid Al-Harbi, Commander of Security Aviation, said the hi-tech system in the S92 helicopter displayed a warning sign indicating a sudden malfunction in one of the engines. The helicopter was on a normal training flight in the eastern part of Jeddah Governorate. A preliminary inspection showed that a small bird had been sucked into the engine causing damage to the internal parts. Technicians later arrived to repair the helicopter. The sophisticated S92 helicopter is equipped with infrared cameras for night missions. It is used for search and rescue operations. __
