A helicopter was pushed to make an emergency landing at Middletown High School North in New Jersey, prompting a swift response from authorities.
Incident Details:
The emergency landing occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time, with the helicopter touching down on a baseball field at the rear of the high school. Middletown Township Police swiftly responded to the scene following reports of the incident.
Helicopter Operator and Issue:
Zip Aviation of Caldwell, New Jersey, operated the helicopter involved in the emergency landing. The pilot, who was the aircraft’s sole occupant, encountered an in-flight issue when an indicator light illuminated, necessitating the emergency landing.
Despite the unexpected landing, the pilot assessed the situation and determined that landing on the baseball field would be safest. Fortunately, no students or faculty were present on the field or in the surrounding areas at the time of the landing, ensuring the safety of all individuals involved.
School Response:
Jessica Alfone, Superintendent of Middletown Twp. Public Schools, reassured the community that swift action was taken to confirm the safety of students and staff. She emphasized that the incident had no impact on class schedules or after-school activities and expressed gratitude that no injuries were reported.
Notification to Authorities:
Following the emergency landing, Middletown Police promptly notified the New Jersey State Police at the Regional Operations & Intelligence Center (NJ ROIC), which in turn alerted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate the incident further.