Two U.S. Marine Corps pilots were taken to a hospital after their AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter crash-landed in a parking lot in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, on Sunday night.
The crash was reported at about 10:14 p.m. near London Bridge Road and the Windsor launch ramp in Lake Havasu State Park, according to city officials.
Firefighters arriving at the scene found the military helicopter in the launch ramp parking lot. Both pilots were able to get out of the aircraft on their own and walk away from the wreckage.
The pilots were taken to Havasu Regional Medical Center for evaluation and were in stable condition, according to the U.S. Marine Corps’ 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. They were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The helicopter was an AH-1Z Viper assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303, part of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The training squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton in California.
The crash caused a fuel leak, and firefighters used firefighting foam to contain it and secure the aircraft. No firefighters were injured, according to Lake Havasu City officials.
The circumstances that led to the crash landing remain unclear. Military personnel are investigating the incident, and the Marine Corps said additional information would be released when available.
The AH-1Z Viper is a twin-engine attack helicopter used by the Marine Corps for missions including close air support, armed reconnaissance and escort operations. It is designed to operate alongside Marine ground forces.
Officials have not disclosed what the helicopter was doing before the crash or whether mechanical problems contributed to the incident.