A helicopter crash in South Africa’s Eastern Cape earlier this year was caused by an unexpected passenger—a penguin in a cardboard box, according to a report by the South African Civil Aviation Authority. The crash happened shortly after take-off from Bird Island on January 19, 2025, during a routine aerial survey mission.
After landing on the island, a request was made to transport the penguin to Port Elizabeth. The bird was placed in a box on a passenger’s lap but slid off during take-off. The box hit the cyclic pitch control lever, causing the aircraft to roll violently and crash about 20 metres from lift-off.
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Although the helicopter sustained heavy damage, all passengers and crew members escaped without injury. Remarkably, the penguin was also unharmed in the crash.
Investigators blamed the crash on the failure to properly secure the penguin in accordance with flight safety protocols. The aviation authority called for stricter adherence to cargo safety rules, especially when transporting animals.
