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Separate bird strikes cause 2 choppers to make emergency landings in Iowa

News

November 12th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

(Mason City, IA) –  Officials with Mercy One Medical Center in Mason City posted on social media Tuesday night, that the MercyOne Air Med 3 helicopter experienced a bird strike over Worth County. There were no patients on board at the time, and the pilot quickly made a successful emergency landing with none of the crew injured. The helicopter sustained a shattered windscreen. No further information was immediately available.
The incident marked the second bird strike this week involving a medical helicopter crew.
According to reports, Fort Dodge-based Life Flight 2 had an in-air incident Sunday evening, which caused the chopper to make an emergency landing just North of Rock Rapids, Iowa.
Preliminary reports indicated some sort of bird strike resulted in windshield and rotor damage to the aircraft, which was able to circle around and set down near a grassy area near County Road K52 in rural Lyon County. No injuries were reported.