An "unsecured" penguin in a cardboard box triggered a helicopter crash in South Africa, investigators have revealed.
The incident occurred when the penguin, placed in a box on a passenger's lap, slid off and struck the pilot's controls moments after takeoff from Bird Island off the Eastern Cape coast on January 19.
According to the South African Civil Aviation Authority's report released this week, the impact caused the helicopter to plummet to the ground. Remarkably, all occupants, including the penguin, escaped without injury.
Investigators determined that "the lack of secure containment for the penguin" created the "dangerous situation" that led to the crash.
The helicopter had been conducting an aerial survey of the island in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape province. Upon completion, a specialist requested transport of one penguin back to Port Elizabeth for unknown reasons.
The aviation authority said the pilot had performed a "risk assessment" but failed to document the penguin's transport, a violation of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 2011.
The report detailed how the incident unfolded: when the helicopter reached approximately 15m altitude, the cardboard box slipped off the specialist's lap, causing the cyclic pitch control lever to move to the far-right position. This sudden shift made the aircraft roll uncontrollably.
Unable to recover, the main rotor blades struck the ground, resulting in the helicopter crashing onto its starboard side roughly 20m from lift-off.
Despite substantial damage to the aircraft, both crew members and the penguin emerged unscathed.
The report emphasised that all situations must adhere to "established safety protocols" and aviation safety procedures. It further noted that proper evaluation of potential hazards, such as shifting cargo, should have been conducted.
"The absence of a proper, secured crate meant that the penguin's containment was not suitable for the flight conditions," it concluded.
