Pilot Encountered Debris While Landing on Main Street

Santa’s traditional helicopter arrival at Cedar City’s annual Downtown Christmas Lighting Ceremony didn’t exactly go according to plan during the November 29 event, when airborne construction debris forced the pilot to divert moments before touching down. Instead, a police escort rushed Santa in, and the event continued as scheduled.

City officials said the helicopter, operated by Southern Utah University’s aviation program, was on final approach when loose material on the street was lifted by rotor wash. The pilot, being an experienced SUU instructor with thousands of flight hours, determined the debris posed enough of a hazard to abandon the landing and reposition elsewhere.

Witnesses noted that a piece of plastic was launched by the rotor wash and reportedly caused a minor hand injury to one of the spectators. The crowd then stood confused as the aircraft passed overhead instead of settling onto its designated spot on Main Street.

Despite the disruption, Santa still made it to the ceremony. Cedar City Police met the helicopter and escorted him to the event, allowing him to participate in the countdown and lighting as scheduled.

Despite the unexpected change, the community made the most out of the event. It has been a hit in recent years, with attendance having reached roughly 10,000 residents in previous events. Local officials heavily prepared for a similar turnout this time around and were ready to respond to the situation at hand because of it.

“The pilot was an expert at his job, and we have full trust in the SUU aviation department…He made an excellent choice to put people’s safety first,” noted Public Information Officer John Zierow. “It was a good experience, and it’s a reminder of how precious the people in our lives are, and it’s a reminder to keep your loved ones close and just enjoy the holiday spirit this time of year.”

FMI: www.cedarcity.org