MANILA, Philippines — A low-flying helicopter newly acquired by the police has accidentally blown away a tent and toppled an LED screen during the 117th Philippine National Police Service anniversary attended by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Attendees of the event scurried to safety after the Bell 429 helicopter performing a salute flew too close and sent strong gusts that turned over the tent covering them from the rain. No one was injured in the incident.
The damage to the LED panels, however, could cost around P3 million to repair, ABS-CBN reported. An investigation of the incident is ongoing.
The Bell 429 helicopter worth over P435 million was purchased in March last year and delivered in April this year.
Police and civilian attendees run for safety as their tent is blown away by a low-flying helicopter (not pictured) in a review of troops during the 117th police anniversary celebrations at the national headquarters in Manila on August 8, 2018, attended by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. No one was injured in the incident.
Ted Aljibe/AFP
Police and civilian attendees run for safety as their tent is blown away by a low-flying helicopter (not pictured) in a review of troops during the 117th police anniversary celebrations at the national headquarters in Manila on August 8, 2018, attended by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. No one was injured in the incident.
Ted Aljibe/AFP
Police and civilian attendees run for safety as their tent is blown away by a low-flying helicopter (not pictured) in a review of troops during the 117th police anniversary celebrations at the national headquarters in Manila on August 8, 2018, attended by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. No one was injured in the incident.
Ted Aljibe/AFP
Philippine National Police officers and employees react as a giant video screen and their tent are toppled by a hovering police helicopter performing a salute during the 117th Philippine National Police Service anniversary at Camp Crame in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018.
AP Photo/Bullit Marquez
Philippine National Police officers and employees react as a giant video screen and their tent are toppled by a hovering police helicopter performing a salute during the 117th Philippine National Police Service anniversary at Camp Crame in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018.
AP Photo/Bullit Marquez
— Mikas Matsuzawa with reports from AP and AFP
