Cop who fell from NYPD helicopter released from hospital

An NYPD detective who fell from a hovering helicopter in Queens was released from the hospital as the department continues its probe into the incident, police said Saturday.

Dozens of cops lined up outside Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx Friday to applaud Detective Michael Black’s recovery from the injuries he received during a botched training exercise at the NYPD police academy in Queens.

The Emergency Services Unit cop was supposed to rappel down from the chopper as it hovered over the sprawling College Point training facility about 12:15 p.m. on Dec. 1, but Black’s rope wasn’t secured to the helicopter.

A video of the incident seen by the Daily News showed the thick, black rope being dropped onto the grassy field and Black — who joined the department in 2005 — grabbing hold of it, ready to descend, video viewed by the Daily News shows.

The detective fell to the ground with the rope still in hand.

Nearby officers ran to the injured detective’s aid as he laid in the grass. The helicopter touched down moments later, the video shows.

Black was airlifted to Jacobi Medical Center to be treated. His leg had broken in two places, a police source with knowledge of the case said.

The detective was hospitalized for eight days before he was sent home. His left leg was bandaged below the knee under his blue sweatpants as he smiled and waved at well-wishers, a video of his release shows.

“During a recent training exercise, one of our Emergency Service Unit Detectives was severely injured,” Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell wrote in a Tweet. “Today, he left Jacobi Hospital surrounded by his fellow Finest. On behalf of the entire NYPD, we wish him a speedy & full recovery!”

The investigation into Black’s fall remained ongoing, an NYPD spokeswoman said.

Either the rope was not properly rigged or “the rope attachment point could have failed,” a police source told The News. The person in charge of rappelling operations overseeing the exercise was also new to the position, the source added.