Reacting to a downed helicopter
Brevity word: "Downed Bird" — A helicopter has crashed but may have survivors.
Actions on:
- Assume survivability unless visual evidence confirms otherwise.
- Assess the crash visually—speed, terrain, fireball size, etc.
- Identify cause (e.g. MANPAD, HMG, RPG) to inform immediate threat response.
- Transmit crash location, helo ID, and threat type to command and other pilots.
- If the threat is near the LZ, announce an LZ shift (e.g., “LZ shift 500m west”).
- Prioritize getting remaining troops on the ground—do not delay.
- Once troops are down, a helo may be tasked with visual recon of the crash site, only if the threat allows.
- Rescue of survivors is at the discretion of the Platoon Commander based on the tactical situation.
