Owl rode along for several water drops

(KGPE)

Wildland Firefighter

CLOVIS, California – KGPE reported that an owl landed inside a helicopter that was in flight fighting the Creek Fire on Sunday afternoon.

The bird flew into the aircraft through a small 16″ x 16″ window, sat and stared at the pilot as he flew several water drops, and then left out through the window approximately 10 minutes later.

Pilot Dan Alpiner snapped a picture of his new unexpected co-pilot after it landed. Alpiner told KGPE when he noticed the large bird he was scared.

“It kinda spooked me for a second there and we kinda locked eyes and the thing looked around and was chill and then I was like okay then you are going to work with me.”

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