Coast Guard chopper lands in Golden Gate Park

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter had to make an emergency landing in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park Thursday morning.

The helicopter crew was returning from a search prompted by an alert beacon that went off, but was returning after about 30 minutes of searching at about 7:45 a.m. when a warning alerted them of an apparent tail rotor malfunction, Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Kroll said.

Kroll said the crew decided to land “as soon as possible” because of the critical function of the tail rotor to the helicopter, and happened to be flying over Big Rec Field, located in Golden Gate Park near Lincoln Way and Seventh Avenue.

The helicopter landed safely and crews will be inspecting it and possibly make repairs before clearing it for takeoff again later today, Kroll said.

All previously scheduled activities for the day at Big Rec Field have been canceled, according to the city’s Recreation and Park Department.