U.S. border patrol helicopter downed by illegals
Thread Starter
VIP Member
iTrader: (14)
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,675
From: Wherever Sucks the Most
Car Info: 2003 WRX, 2008 Camry
U.S. border patrol helicopter downed by illegals
Yeah, these are people we really need in our country. Won't be long until we hear illegals complaining about how their civil rights are being trampled on because BP agents decide to use force. 
Throwing rocks at a bird is deadly force, btw. Just not sure if they can engage them or not. It certainly wouldn't be accpetable for half of America. Same thing happened in Somolia. If they were stupid enough to do this with a military bird the door gunner may have very well engaged them.
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsAr...GRATION-DC.XML
Throwing rocks at a bird is deadly force, btw. Just not sure if they can engage them or not. It certainly wouldn't be accpetable for half of America. Same thing happened in Somolia. If they were stupid enough to do this with a military bird the door gunner may have very well engaged them. http://today.reuters.com/News/newsAr...GRATION-DC.XML
U.S. border patrol helicopter downed by illegals
Thu Aug 25, 2005 7:20 PM ET
By Dan Whitcomb
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A U.S. Border Patrol helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing after illegal immigrants pelted it with baseball-sized rocks, damaging a rotor, a spokesman for the agency said on Thursday.
There were no injuries as the helicopter's pilot was able to set the aircraft down just north of the All American Canal on the border between the U.S. and Mexico, Border Patrol spokesman Michael Gramley said.
Authorities say smugglers are becoming increasingly willing to use violence against border patrol agents as their trade becomes more profitable, with smugglers able to earn about $2,000 per person.
The helicopter pilot was responding to a call for help from agents on the ground on Tuesday evening when about 10 people on the south bank of the canal began hurling large rocks at the aircraft.
"One of the rocks struck one of the three rotors and the pilot instantly felt a bad vibration as he was flying," Gramley said. "He immediately made an emergency landing approximately 1 mile east of the incident."
Gramley said agents on the ground caught 17 people who had crossed to the north side of the canal but most of the 10 seen throwing rocks escaped back across the border. Mexican authorities were contacted but did not arrest them, he said.
"We believe these 10 subjects were involved in alien smuggling," he said. "We've seen an increased trend in the Yuma (Arizona) sector of violence by smugglers toward agents." The incident took place on the California-Mexico border close to the Arizona state line.
© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.
Thu Aug 25, 2005 7:20 PM ET
By Dan Whitcomb
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A U.S. Border Patrol helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing after illegal immigrants pelted it with baseball-sized rocks, damaging a rotor, a spokesman for the agency said on Thursday.
There were no injuries as the helicopter's pilot was able to set the aircraft down just north of the All American Canal on the border between the U.S. and Mexico, Border Patrol spokesman Michael Gramley said.
Authorities say smugglers are becoming increasingly willing to use violence against border patrol agents as their trade becomes more profitable, with smugglers able to earn about $2,000 per person.
The helicopter pilot was responding to a call for help from agents on the ground on Tuesday evening when about 10 people on the south bank of the canal began hurling large rocks at the aircraft.
"One of the rocks struck one of the three rotors and the pilot instantly felt a bad vibration as he was flying," Gramley said. "He immediately made an emergency landing approximately 1 mile east of the incident."
Gramley said agents on the ground caught 17 people who had crossed to the north side of the canal but most of the 10 seen throwing rocks escaped back across the border. Mexican authorities were contacted but did not arrest them, he said.
"We believe these 10 subjects were involved in alien smuggling," he said. "We've seen an increased trend in the Yuma (Arizona) sector of violence by smugglers toward agents." The incident took place on the California-Mexico border close to the Arizona state line.
© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.
Last edited by Salty; Aug 26, 2005 at 12:41 PM.
that is simply amazing.. but in desperate times desperate people will do desperate things...
throwing rocks at a helicopter is simply amazing..
I feel we do bear a responsibility to treat other humans as such (with the same rights that we our selves hold to be self evident).
And WTF was a bird doing that damn close to them to be hit by a baseball size rock (unless these guys are mutants that must have been a helluva throw)
throwing rocks at a helicopter is simply amazing..
I feel we do bear a responsibility to treat other humans as such (with the same rights that we our selves hold to be self evident).
And WTF was a bird doing that damn close to them to be hit by a baseball size rock (unless these guys are mutants that must have been a helluva throw)
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,650
From: Mountains
Car Info: 2007 Nissan Frontier
I know what happened is bad but...
I chuckled a little bit when i saw the headline. We have the largest and most powerful nation in the world, and yet our boarders are not secure, and people are downing our helicopters with rocks? Thats a little funny.
I chuckled a little bit when i saw the headline. We have the largest and most powerful nation in the world, and yet our boarders are not secure, and people are downing our helicopters with rocks? Thats a little funny.
Originally Posted by Imprezastifan88
I know what happened is bad but...
I chuckled a little bit when i saw the headline. We have the largest and most powerful nation in the world, and yet our boarders are not secure, and people are downing our helicopters with rocks? Thats a little funny.
I chuckled a little bit when i saw the headline. We have the largest and most powerful nation in the world, and yet our boarders are not secure, and people are downing our helicopters with rocks? Thats a little funny.
i just dont understand
iClub Silver Vendor
iTrader: (25)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 15,494
From: Participating in some Anarchy!
Car Info: 2005 LGT wagon
Originally Posted by dr3d1zzl3
And WTF was a bird doing that damn close to them to be hit by a baseball size rock (unless these guys are mutants that must have been a helluva throw)
You assume that the rock thrower is Mexican.
Obviously, given that it was a baseball-sized rock, the thrower must be Puerto Rican.
Originally Posted by jdepould
the rotors are designed to be resilient though, i just don't get it
Actually they are just the opposite.They are very brittle as if when you preflight and pull on one you could very well snap it off. Though I agree, they should have never been that close to the mexicans.
Originally Posted by I3eXa
Actually they are just the opposite.They are very brittle as if when you preflight and pull on one you could very well snap it off. Though I agree, they should have never been that close to the mexicans.
Registered User
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,461
From: "It will take time to restore chaos." GWB
Car Info: 72 Vespa with curb feelers
Originally Posted by dr3d1zzl3
that is simply amazing.. but in desperate times desperate people will do desperate things...
I feel we do bear a responsibility to treat other humans as such (with the same rights that we our selves hold to be self evident).
I feel we do bear a responsibility to treat other humans as such (with the same rights that we our selves hold to be self evident).
I think people throwing rocks (deadly force) should be shot.
iClub Silver Vendor
iTrader: (25)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 15,494
From: Participating in some Anarchy!
Car Info: 2005 LGT wagon
Originally Posted by HellaDumb
I think people throwing rocks (deadly force) should be shot.
BTW, why aren't these birds armed?