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Mechanical Issue Forces LAPD Chopper To Land On School Playground In Koreatown

KOREATOWN (CBSLA) — A Los Angeles police helicopter made a precautionary landing Monday on an elementary school playground in Koreatown after a reported mechanical issue.

The chopper touched down shortly after 11 a.m. at the Dr. Sammy Lee Elementary Medical and Health Science Magnet School at 3600 Council Street, said Los Angeles Unified School District spokeswoman Monica Carazo.

The school was placed on lockdown as a precaution, Carazo said.

Sgt. Steve Roussell of the Los Angeles Department said the pilots were returning from their two-and-a-half-hour patrol when they got a warning about a transmission problem. "They found a location here that was suitable for landing. At the time, there were no kids present. So they approached safely and made a precautionary landing," he said.

Roussell said precautionary landings are common and happen about every six months. "It happens fairly frequently because we treat all indications as if it was a real emergency," he said. "A majority of the time, it's not a real emergency."

He said the helicopter was inspected Monday morning before takeoff.

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