Army abandon £26million Apache helicopter after it broke down on school cricket pitch
The war machine was flown into posh £35,000-a-year Felsted school, in Essex, as part of a Help for Heroes fun day
ARMY chiefs were forced to abandon a £26million Apache helicopter after it broke down – on a school cricket pitch.
The war machine was flown into posh £35,000-a-year Felsted school, in Essex, as part of a Help for Heroes fun day.
But when the pilot tried to take off the chopper failed to start – leaving it blocking the cricket-mad school’s crease.
The aircraft was still parked on the pitch yesterday six days after the embarrassing engine failure.
It means the school – which counts cricket legend Nick Knight as a former pupil – has been unable to use its cricket pitch.
A Felsted spokesman said: “It experienced a technical fault.
“I don’t know exactly what happened, but the aircraft can not currently be moved.
“There are plans in place for it to be moved as soon as possible.
“I think the novelty has worn of for the kids as it is right in the middle of their cricket pitch.
“There is no danger to the public and it is not armed.
“The Joint Helicopter Command is working as hard as they can and there are plans in place to recover it with minimum disruption to the school.”
The Apache, which landed on Friday May 18 was unarmed, which means it was left at the boarding school without a guard. Pupils were warned not to approach it.
Joint Helicopter Command and 4 Regiment Army Air Corps were said to be “working hard” to recover the aircraft.
The Army thanked the school for its understanding and patience and said the chopper posed no danger to the public.
A spokesman said: “An Apache helicopter was in the grounds of Felsted School in North Essex on 18 May when it experienced a technical fault.
“The aircraft cannot currently be moved but a plan is in place to recover it as soon as possible.”