Small helicopter lands near U.S. Capitol; pilot detained

WASHINGTON — A small helicopter landed on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol with a single occupant aboard on Wednesday, and one person was detained, U.S. Capitol Police said.

Nearby streets were temporarily closed as police investigated, according to a police statement that called the craft a “gyro copter.”

The copter resembled a small open-air helicopter with a single rotor on top.

A bomb squad has determined there was nothing hazardous on the small, open-air helicopter, the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement, adding that the “gyro copter” will be moved to a secure location.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the landing and said in a statement that the pilot of the “gyro copter” was not in contact with air traffic controllers or authorized to enter restricted airspace.

Security rules for the Capitol and the District of Columbia prohibit private aircraft flights without prior permission, according to the FAA. Anyone violating those airspace restrictions may face civil and criminal penalties.

The security scare comes after a man shot himself dead in front of the Capitol on Saturday and sparked a temporary lockdown.

In January, a small “quadcopter” drone crashed onto the White House lawn. The man who was operating it did not face criminal charges.