Reacting to a downed helicopter

---

The FM outlines our core skills, policies and guides to ensure every member stands ready for the mission ahead.

Brevity word: "Downed Bird" — A helicopter has crashed but may have survivors.

Actions on:

• Assume survivability unless visual evidence confirms otherwise.
• Assess the crash visually—speed, terrain, fireball size, etc.
• Identify cause (e.g. MANPAD, HMG, RPG) to inform immediate threat response.
• Transmit crash location, helo ID, and threat type to command and other pilots.
• If the threat is near the LZ, announce an LZ shift (e.g., “LZ shift 500m west”).
• Prioritize getting remaining troops on the ground—do not delay.
• Once troops are down, a helo may be tasked with visual recon of the crash site, only if the threat allows.
• Rescue of survivors is at the discretion of the Platoon Commander based on the tactical situation.