A medical chopper was forced to avoid a drone in its flight path as it carried a patient to a hospital in Fresno August 12.
The SkyLife Air Medical chopper was transporting a snake-bitten patient at the time of the drone encounter, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The pilot reported that the helicopter was at an altitude of about 1,000 feet when he noticed the drone, which forced him to sharply turn the helicopter. He estimated the chopper avoided hitting the drone by 20 feet and said it was his first encounter with a drone in his 25 year career.
Despite the near-catastrophe the chopper successfully transported the patient to Community Regional Medical Center.
A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration said a local police force is investigating the incident.
