The Fort Worth Police Department’s new helicopter will be fixed after an emergency landing on March 7.
Fort Worth Police Department
The Fort Worth Police Department will fix its damaged helicopter as soon as Federal Aviation Administration finishes its investigation into a March 7 emergency landing, a police spokesperson said.
The recently inaugurated Air One helicopter experienced a mechanical failure while responding to a service call, according to a March 8 police press release.
The helicopter was about 100 feet in the air when the pilot noticed the problem. He tried to return to the helipad, but made an emergency landing just short of the intended landing spot.
The pilot and a tactical flight officer on board were both treated for minor injuries.
A police spokesperson said they did not how much it would cost to repair the helicopter, and a spokesperson for Bell Helicopter declined to comment in an email to the Star-Telegram.
Representatives for the FAA did not immediately respond to an email from the Star-Telegram requesting comment.
The Bell 505 was put into service in December 2025. At the time, Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia hailed the $3.9 million helicopter as an “investment in public safety.”
It’s one of two helicopters that make up the Fort Worth police department’s Air Support Unit. The unit operates the helicopters on a rotating basis 24 hours a day. They are primarily responsible for assisting with pursuits, shootings, suicide prevention and surveillance, according to the police department’s website.
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Harrison Mantas has covered Fort Worth city government, agencies and people since September 2021. He likes to live tweet city hall meetings, and help his fellow Fort Worthians figure out what’s going on.