USAF UH-1 "shot down" in US

[bob225]

Not quite what you'd expect on a training flight:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53769016

 

[Archibald]

Boogaloo bois training maybe ?

 

[TomS]

Shot down is a bit strong -- there's no reporting that the helicopter was unable to keep flying. But they had a wounded crewman and no need to press on for a mission, so they landed ASAP.

As to who did it, at 1000 feet altitude plus slant range, hitting a helicopter deliberately with a small arm seems incredibly unlikely. I'm guessing it's actually an accident or at least someone who didn't actually mean to hit the helicopter but got really unlucky.

 

[Foo Fighter]

I think it would take at least a Barrat light .50 to make an aimed shot even close to possible. Wrong place, right time...

 

[Archibald]

"Shot AT" rather than "shot DOWN", pretty much.

 

[Conspirator]

someone with a gun and a dream can achieve anything.

 

[Richard N]

In the US, people can have almost any kind of weapon and in Texas they are no longer required to have any kind of training in their use. It is now easier to get and free carry a gun than it is to vote or get a driver's license.

A few years ago, a guy target shooting with a .50 cal hit a woman sitting inside a camper in the parking lot of Texas Motor Speedway. It wounded her arm and lodged in the wall of her camper. The shooter turned himself in after hearing about the woman's injury from a friend: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/stray_bullet_hits_fan_at_texas_motor_speedway/2112661/