Penguin in a Box Causes Helicopter Crash in South Africa

A helicopter crash in South Africa has been attributed to an unsecured penguin. The bird, contained in a cardboard box, was the cause of a "dangerous situation" that led to the accident. The South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) investigated the incident.

The crash occurred on January 19th on Bird Island, off the Eastern Cape. The pilot of the Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter lost control after the box containing the penguin slid off a passenger's lap during takeoff and struck the pilot's controls. The helicopter descended from a height of 15 meters, and the main rotor blades impacted the ground, resulting in significant damage. Fortunately, no one on board was injured, including the penguin.

The CAA's report placed blame on the "lack of secure containment for the penguin." Photographs included in the report depicted the severely damaged helicopter and the cardboard box used to transport the bird, which had holes. The report did not specify the reason for the penguin's transport.

The flight involved a pilot, three passengers, and the penguin, who were conducting an aerial survey. A specialist on board requested to transport a penguin back to Port Elizabeth. The pilot agreed, and the penguin was placed in a cardboard box. The pilot had conducted a risk assessment but failed to include the transportation of the penguin.

During takeoff, the box slid off the passenger's lap and onto the pilot's controls. This caused the helicopter to roll to the right, and the pilot was unable to regain control in time. The report concluded that the penguin's containment was unsuitable for flight conditions due to the absence of a proper crate. The pilot also failed to include the penguin's transport in the risk assessment.