(CNN) — A bird struck an Arkansas hospital’s helicopter Saturday, tearing a hole into the aircraft’s nose and prompting the pilot to land early, according to officials and pictures taken after the landing.
The chopper’s pilot made a “safe landing” in that state after hitting a bird while returning to Baptist Health Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, hospital spokesman Mark Lowman said.
“I think the pilot just made a judgment call to set it down,” Lowman said of the landing, which happened at 6:15 p.m. Saturday near Forrest City, Arkansas.
Video footage taken by CNN affiliate WREG showed a bird hanging out of a hole torn into the paneling on the chopper’s nose. Part of the helicopter’s windshield also was broken.