Man dies after being hit by bird in helicopter in Australia

A man has died after a helicopter he was travelling in collided with a bird, during a flight over the Northern Territory's remote north-east Arnhem Land in Australia.

Emergency services received reports about 2pm Monday that a helicopter carrying two occupants had made an emergency landing at the Lake Evella airstrip in Gapuwiyak after the aircraft struck a bird.

"The impact allegedly caused the bird to fatally strike a 54-year-old male passenger," an NT Police statement said.

"The pilot was able to land the aircraft safely and was uninjured."

Northern Territory police officers and St John Ambulance paramedics attended the scene and declared the 54-year-old man dead.

Police are investigating the "fatal helicopter incident" and will prepare a report for the coroner.

The statement said NT WorkSafe and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau had been notified.

(With inputs from agencies)