Unsecured Penguin Causes Helicopter Crash
A helicopter conducting an aerial survey in South Africa crashed due to an unsecured penguin in a cardboard box. The box, placed on a passenger’s lap, slid off during takeoff, striking the controls and causing a loss of control. The resulting crash, approximately 15 meters from takeoff, caused substantial damage to the helicopter but resulted in no injuries to the pilot, passenger, or penguin. The South African Civil Aviation Authority cited failure to follow established safety protocols and proper risk assessment as the primary causes.
John Q. Hosedrinker