Not Known How He Managed To Start The Helicopter's Engines

For a few tense moments Saturday, a Mayo Clinic medical helicopter sat on the ground with its engines started and the main and tail rotors turning with only a six-year-old boy in the cockpit.

The aircraft was on display at the Minnesota Air Spectacular at the Mankato Regional Airport. Fortunately, the only damage that was done was a fabric sun shade was knocked over by the rotorwash and two people were slightly injured when they were hit as it fell, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Mayo Clinic released a statement saying "Mayo One helicopter was inadvertently powered up by a member of the public while the aircraft was parked on static display at the Minnesota Air Spectacular in Mankato. The Mayo One team quickly initiated shutdown procedures. Two individuals suffered minor injuries when a nearby sun shade tipped over.

"The Mayo One aircraft involved in the incident has been removed from service for inspection and maintenance, which is standard procedure. The safety of our patients, our team members and the general public is Mayo Clinic's highest priority.

"Mayo Clinic is conducting a thorough review and has proactively reported the incident to the Federal Aviation Administration."

After the helicopter crew shut down the aircraft and the boy was taken from the cockpit, he reportedly ran to his father who consoled the crying boy.

It was not known if anyone else was on board the aircraft at the time. Witnesses said the door of the helo was open, and the boy simply climbed into the cockpit.

We suppose the moral of the story is ... don't leave your keys in your helicopter.

(EC145 pictured in file photo)

FMI: www.faa.gov