EPS chopper forced to land due to freezing rain

CTV Edmonton: Poor weather forces chopper to land Poor weather forced one of the EPS' helicopters to make an unexpected landing Monday.

Edmonton police said one of their helicopters was forced to make an unscheduled landing in a parking lot early Monday morning, due to the weather.

Police said Air 2, and its crew, left the Villeneuve airport for Edmonton at about 1 a.m Monday morning.

After two hours of helping officers with calls, the crew prepared to head back to the airport, when the helicopter encountered freezing rain – eventually deciding to land the aircraft in the parking lot of Callingwood Mall, just after 3 a.m.

“This was a proactive decision made by a professional pilot with 3,200 hours of aviation experience,” Insp. Gary Godziuk said in a press release. “There was no increased risk to the flight crew or the public.

“Mechanically, the aircraft was functioning and in no distress. The situation involved reduced visibility and any potential risk was professionally managed by the flight crew by deciding to land the helicopter immediately.”

Officials also said the decision to land was made before the situation became an emergency.

Police said the helicopter was de-iced in the parking lot later that morning, and it took off to return to the Villeneuve airport at about noon Monday.