San Francisco

CalStar Medical Helicopter Lands at Vacaville Shopping Center

A CalStar helicopter pilot was forced to make an emergency landing near a Lucky’s parking lot in Vacaville Thursday night after experiencing mechanical issues.

Vacaville Police Sgt. David Spencer said the helicopter landed about 8 p.m. in a grassy area by the shopping center near Peabody Road and Alamo Drive.

"This doesn't happen a lot," Spencer said. "The pilot did a great job. He landed in a grassy field instead of a helipad. Yeah, in a shopping center."

The crew had been taking a hospital patient to San Francisco. That patient was transferred by ambulance.

Spencer said it is not confirmed that the helicopter’s troubles were because of a reported bird strike. The Vacaville Fire Department told the Daily Republic that the helicopter likely struck a bird.

The FAA issued a statement saying there were four people on board when the helicopter made the landing. .

No one was injured in the landing.

NBC Bay Area's Lauren Inderhees and Craig Cannon contributed to this report.
 

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