The FBI and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations are continuing their probe of a small-arms attack on a U.S. Air Force Bell UH-1N that was fired upon Monday while practicing instrument approaches at the Manassas (Virginia) Regional Airport. (KHEF) shortly before 1 p.m. The helicopter is assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
At approximately 12:43 p.m., a single bullet struck the helicopter, damaging it and causing minor injuries to a crewmember described as a hand-wound. The aircraft was flying at 1,000 feet agl some 10 nm northwest of the airport at the time of the incident and made an emergency landing at Manassas. The crewmember was treated and released at a local hospital.
At Andrews, the squadron is tasked with flying senior military officers and VIPs. It is scheduled to replace its fleet of UH-1Ns with Boeing-Leonardo MH-139 Grey Wolfs with deliveries beginning in Fiscal Year 2021.