In a bizarre incident on January 19, a penguin caused a helicopter crash in South Africa. The event occurred shortly after the helicopter took off from Bird Island, situated in the Eastern Cape. According to the South African Civil Aviation Authority, the penguin, which had been placed in a cardboard box by a passenger, slipped from their lap and hit the pilot’s controls. This unexpected movement caused the aircraft to roll and crash onto its right side, about 50 feet off the ground.
Luckily, no one on board was harmed in the incident, and even the penguin remained unharmed. The crash was attributed to the lack of proper containment for the penguin, which was an unsecured passenger on the flight. This oversight led to a dangerous situation that could have had more severe consequences.
Investigation and Findings on the Penguin Causes Helicopter Crash
Penguin Causes Helicopter Crash: Following the penguin causing the helicopter crash, an investigation revealed that the pilot had not included the transportation of the penguin in the pre-flight risk assessment. The Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 2011 require that animals be transported in secure crates to prevent such incidents. In this case, the penguin’s containment was inadequate for the flight conditions, which contributed directly to the dangerous mishap.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority emphasized that all safety protocols must be adhered to, especially when transporting animals in flight. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough evaluations and risk assessments before any flight, no matter how unusual the circumstances may seem.
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Source: www.people.com
