A penguin inside a cardboard box was at the center of a helicopter crash that occurred in South Africa earlier this year, according to an official report.
On January 19, a pilot and three passengers were transporting a penguin back from Bird Island in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province while conducting an aerial survey of the region. This detail emerged from an investigation report released by the South African Civil Aviation Authority this week.
A specialist on board had “requested that they transport one of the penguins back,” indicating a need for the penguin’s transportation. The pilot consented, and the penguin was subsequently placed in a cardboard box for the flight.
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Despite conducting a risk assessment prior to the flight, the pilot failed to account for the presence of the penguin during transport.
The passenger seated in the front left of the helicopter was holding the penguin in their lap when the “cardboard box slid off to the right and onto the pilot’s cyclic pitch control lever.
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The report noted: “As a result, the cyclic pitch control lever advanced to the far-right position. The helicopter rolled to the right, and the pilot could not recover in time.”
The helicopter then struck the ground and “sustained substantial damage.”
This incident took place while the helicopter was flying at an altitude of approximately 50 feet.
Fortunately, no one aboard, including the penguin, was harmed during the incident.
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The report concluded by stating: “The lack of secure containment for the penguin created a dangerous situation. The absence of a proper, secured crate meant that the penguin’s containment was not suitable for the flight conditions. Proper cargo handling is crucial to ensure that items on board do not interfere with flight controls or the safety of the passengers.”
