Chopper Crash Landing Injures 3

SAN ONOFRE, Calif. -- Three people were hurt when a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter made an emergency forced landing on San Onofre State Beach, according to authorities.
     
The McDonnell Douglas 600 helicopter took off from Long Beach Airport en route to Brown Field airport in San Diego when the pilot experienced engine trouble, U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Vincent Bond said. The pilot brought the chopper down on the beach near the San Onofre nuclear power plant.
     
The three crew members on board, all U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees, were taken to area hospitals with non life-threatening injuries.
     
Bond said the helicopter was on a routine patrol mission at the time of the forced landing.
     
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. They are expected to arrive on Friday morning.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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