Both of Griffin Media’s news helicopters sustained damage from a severe weather outbreak that affected Central Oklahoma on Wednesday. One is repairable, the other likely needs replacement.
KWTV’s helicopter, SkyNews 9, lost its windshield after accidentally getting hit by large hail by a supercell that produced a tornado near Cole (which was preliminarily rated an EF3). Pilot Jim Gardner was not pleased, and was forced to make an emergency landing:
KOTV’s helicopter, Osage SkyNews 6, OTOH, was destroyed for the second time in about 15 years. It was brought over by the station to help with KWTV’s coverage of the storm aftermath, but had the misfortune of parking for the night in a hangar at Shawnee Regional Airport, which was struck by another tornado (from the same supercell that spawned the Cole tornado) that struck the western part of the city just over two hours later (estimated to be at least an EF2):
KOTV lost its previous helicopter in June 2007, after it crashed in Sand Springs after clipping the satellite dish of an ENG truck while filming a promo.