A helicopter crash in South Africa was caused by a penguin being transported in an unsecured cardboard box, according to an investigation.
The incident occurred on Bird Island, off the Eastern Cape, during a flight on 19 January. Aboard the Robinson R44 Raven II were a pilot, three passengers, and a penguin placed in a box on a passenger’s lap.
Shortly after takeoff, at about 15 meters above ground, the box slipped from the passenger’s lap and hit the pilot’s control stick. This caused the helicopter to veer sharply to the right. The pilot was unable to regain control, and the aircraft crashed. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the penguin was also unharmed.
Photos from the scene showed the helicopter was badly damaged, and the penguin’s container was a simple cardboard box with air holes. The report did not clarify why the penguin was being moved.
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The pilot had conducted a risk assessment before the flight but failed to include the transport of the penguin. The box was held in place by the passenger’s hands rather than a secured crate, which was deemed unsuitable for flight conditions.
The investigation concluded that the lack of proper containment for the penguin directly led to the crash.
