Cops in Metro helicopter that made hard landing ID’d
The two police officers who were in the Metro helicopter that made a hard landing on New Year’s Eve on a street east of downtown Las Vegas have been identified.
Officers David Callen and Paul Lourenco were flying a McDonnell Douglas 530-FF when they made an emergency landing in front of a home on 23rd Street, north of Bonanza Road near Eastern Avenue, after reporting a mechanical problem just before 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The official cause and nature of the problem remains under investigation.
Police said the officers suffered injuries that were not life-threatening and were taken to University Medical Center, where they were released the same evening. No one else was hurt.
Both officers are experienced pilots with over 2,200 flight hours each and were assigned to the Emergency Operations Bureau, Search and Rescue and Air Support Detail, police said. Callen has been with Metro since March 2000 and Lourenco has been with Metro since July 1997. Both also are certified flight instructors.
“An extensive review of each aircraft in the LVMPD fleet is currently underway,” police stated in a Friday press release. Additionally, Metro will not be using any of its five helicopters for regular service until the inspections are finished.
This incident remains under investigation with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Contact reporter Cassandra Taloma at ctaloma@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @CassandraTaloma.