Cheatham County School District Moves Helicopter From West Cheatham Elementary School

A helicopter was left in the parking lot of West Cheatham Elementary School in Cheatham County on Thursday morning, and district officials arrived to find it sitting there with damage visible on its rotors. The Cheatham County School District told families and employees to be aware as they arrived, while the school worked around the aircraft for bus transportation and student drop-offs.

West Cheatham Elementary School

The helicopter appeared to be an air ambulance, according to the district’s report. By 7:40 a.m., it had been towed away from school property, ending the disruption before the morning routine finished at the school.

Cheatham County Morning Arrivals

The district’s warning was aimed at the people who were already on the way in: families, employees, bus riders, and students being dropped off. With the helicopter on school grounds, arrivals had to be handled around the aircraft until the tow cleared the lot.

That sequence left one unusual problem for the school to manage in real time: an aircraft in the parking lot, a normal start of day still underway, and a departure window that closed at 7:40 a.m. for anyone arriving after that point.