Update : On Friday, at approximately 9:48 a.m., Omaha Police Helicopter, Able-1, was approaching Blair Municipal Airport, located at 2375 N-133 in Blair, Nebraska, after completing routine patrol, when the aircraft's engine lost power causing the aircraft to rapidly descend from approximately forty to fifty feet in the air.
Upon impact, the aircraft came to rest on its side, suffering severe damage. The Aircraft is a 2008 Bell 206 JetRanger.
The Pilot in Command was Officer Brian Yaghoutfam. Yaghoutfam is a 19-year veteran of the Omaha Police Department with twelve years assigned in the Air Support Unit, as a pilot.
The Tactical Flight Officer was Officer Matthew Baughman. Baughman is a 19-year veteran of the Omaha Police Department with twelve and a half years assigned in the Air Support Unit, as a pilot.
Both Officers were transported for medical treatment, where they were both treated and released with minor injuries.
The Omaha Police Department has one mission ready aircraft, that is currently under mandatory scheduled maintenance. The Omaha Police Department has been in contact with the Nebraska State Patrol who will assist in any emergency needs requiring air support.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.
No injuries are being reported after an Omaha Police Department helicopter crashed at the Blair Airport Friday morning.
It happened around 10 a.m. The circumstances of the incident are not yet known. Deputy Chief of Police Kerry Neumann says the Able 1 helicopter lost power while coming in for a landing and dropped 40 to 50 feet from the air.
Neumann says it made a hard landing, which causied the helicopter to end up on its side. He says the two pilots, Officers Brian Yaghoutfam and Matt Bauman are okay. "They have very minor injuries, they were both walking and talking, they're fine."
This is the second OPD helicopter crash in the past four months. The other crash happened in April when a helicopter was put down in a field shortly after take off. Police say that incident began with the partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff.
Omaha Police moved it's air support operations to Blair from the North Omaha airport in July. The crash leaves the department with one helicopter to serve the city.
(Photo: 6 News)