This article is a list of accidents and incidents involving helicopters and which are notable enough to have an article on Wikipedia. It is grouped by the years in which the accidents and incidents occurred.
1968
*22 May –
Sikorsky S-61
The Sikorsky S-61L and S-61N are civil variants of the SH-3 Sea King military helicopter. It was developed and produced by the American helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft.
The commercial version of the Sea King was developed during the ...
L N303Y, operating Los Angeles Airways Flight 841, suffers a mechanical failure in flight which allows the rotor blades to collide with the aircraft's fuselage. It
crashes at
Paramount, California
Paramount is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. According to the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 54,098, down from 55,266 at the 2000 census. Paramount is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area and is bord ...
, killing all 23 people on board.
*14 August –
Sikorsky S-61
The Sikorsky S-61L and S-61N are civil variants of the SH-3 Sea King military helicopter. It was developed and produced by the American helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft.
The commercial version of the Sea King was developed during the ...
L N300Y, operating Los Angeles Airways Flight 417, loses a rotor blade in flight and
crashes at
Compton, California. All 21 people on board are killed.
1975
*17 January –
Sikorsky S-55
The Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw (company model number S-55) was a multi-purpose helicopter used by the United States Army and United States Air Force. It was also license-built by Westland Aircraft as the Westland Whirlwind in the United Kingdom ...
B helicopter
crashes in
Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...
while en route from
Reykjavík Airport
Reykjavík Airport ( Icelandic: ''Reykjavíkurflugvöllur'') is the main domestic airport serving Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, located about from the city centre.
Having shorter runways than the city's larger international airport Kef ...
to
Snæfellsnes
The Snæfellsnes () is a peninsula situated to the west of Borgarfjörður, in western Iceland.
The Snæfellsjökull volcano, regarded as one of the symbols of Iceland, can be found in the area. With its height of 1446 m, it is the highest ...
.
1977
*10 May – A
Sikorsky CH-53 Yas'ur of the
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force (IAF; he, זְרוֹעַ הָאֲוִיר וְהֶחָלָל, Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal, tl, "Air and Space Arm", commonly known as , ''Kheil HaAvir'', "Air Corps") operates as the aerial warfare branch of the Israel Defens ...
crashes in the
Jordan Valley
The Jordan Valley ( ar, غور الأردن, ''Ghor al-Urdun''; he, עֵמֶק הַיַרְדֵּן, ''Emek HaYarden'') forms part of the larger Jordan Rift Valley. Unlike most other river valleys, the term "Jordan Valley" often applies just to ...
. All 54 people on board are killed.
1978
*21 June – Two
Boeing CH-47 Chinooks of the
Imperial Iranian Air Force
The history of the Iranian Air Force, currently known as the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, can be divided into two phases—before the Islamic Revolution, and after it.
Imperial era
The Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) was a branch ...
are
shot down by the
Soviet Air Defence Forces
The Soviet Air Defence Forces (russian: войска ПВО, ''voyska protivovozdushnoy oborony'', ''voyska PVO'', ''V-PVO'', lit. ''Anti-Air Defence Troops''; and formerly ''protivovozdushnaya oborona strany'', ''PVO strany'', lit. ''Anti-Air De ...
after straying into
Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
The Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic (, ; russian: Туркменская Советская Социалистическая Республика, ''Turkmenskaya Sovetskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika''), also commonly known as Turkmenistan o ...
airspace. One aircraft is destroyed with the loss of eight lives. The other is damaged; it is later repaired with permission from Soviet authorities and returns to Iran.
*26 June –
Sikorsky S-61
The Sikorsky S-61L and S-61N are civil variants of the SH-3 Sea King military helicopter. It was developed and produced by the American helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft.
The commercial version of the Sea King was developed during the ...
LN-OQS of
Helikopter Service
CHC Helikopter Service, previously CHC Norway, CHC Helikopter Service and Helikopter Service is the Norwegian division of CHC Helicopter Corporation. The airline was an independent company until 1999. It operates primarily to oil platforms on ...
loses a rotor blade in flight and
crashes into the
North Sea
The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. An epeiric sea, epeiric sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the ...
off
Bergen
Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipality in Vestland county on the west coast of Norway. , its population is roughly 285,900. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway. The municipality covers and is on the peninsula o ...
, Norway. All eighteen people on board are killed.
1981
*13 August –
Westland Wessex
The Westland Wessex is a British-built turbine-powered development of the Sikorsky H-34 (in US service known as Choctaw). It was developed and produced under licence by Westland Aircraft (later Westland Helicopters). One of the main chang ...
G-ASWI of
Bristow Helicopters suffers an engine failure and
ditches
A ditch is a small to moderate divot created to channel water. A ditch can be used for drainage, to drain water from low-lying areas, alongside roadways or fields, or to channel water from a more distant source for plant irrigation. Ditches ar ...
in the
North Sea
The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. An epeiric sea, epeiric sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the ...
off the coast of
Norfolk
Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...
, United Kingdom. All thirteen people on board are killed.
1982
*23 July –
Bell UH-1 Iroquois N87701 of Western Helicopters is damaged by pyrotechnic explosions while a scene for
Twilight Zone: The Movie is being filmed at Indian Dunes, California. Actor
Vic Morrow
Victor Morrow (born Victor Morozoff; February 14, 1929 – July 23, 1982) was an American actor. He came to prominence as one of the leads of the ABC drama series '' Combat!'' (1962–1967), which earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstand ...
and two child actors are
killed on the ground.
*14 September –
Bell 212 G-BDIL owned by
Bristow Helicopters crashes while on a nighttime search and rescue mission in the North Sea, killing all six crew members on board.
1983
*16 July –
Sikorsky S-61
The Sikorsky S-61L and S-61N are civil variants of the SH-3 Sea King military helicopter. It was developed and produced by the American helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft.
The commercial version of the Sea King was developed during the ...
G-BEON of
British Airways
British Airways (BA) is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom. It is headquartered in London, England, near its main hub at Heathrow Airport.
The airline is the second largest UK-based carrier, based on fleet size and passengers ...
crashes into the
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
between the coast of
Cornwall
Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...
and the
Isles of Scilly. Twenty of the 26 people on board are killed.
1986
*18 June –
Bell 206 N6TC of Helitech
collides with Grand Canyon Airlines Flight 6 in mid-air over the
Grand Canyon in Arizona, United States. All five people on board are killed, as are all twenty people on board the
de Havilland Twin Otter
The de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada, which produced the aircraft from 1965 to 1988; Viking Air purchased the type certificate, then restarted ...
that it collided with.
*6 November –
Boeing 234LR Chinook G-BWFC of
British International Helicopters
British International Helicopter Services (BIH), owned by Bristow Group, is a British-owned helicopter operator. It operates a fleet of ten helicopters covering search and rescue, offshore, defence, charter and flying training activities from i ...
suffers a mechanical failure. The aircraft
ditches at sea off
Sumburgh Airport,
Shetland Islands, killing 45 of the 47 people on board.
1988
*13 July –
Sikorsky S-61
The Sikorsky S-61L and S-61N are civil variants of the SH-3 Sea King military helicopter. It was developed and produced by the American helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft.
The commercial version of the Sea King was developed during the ...
N G-BEID of
British International Helicopters
British International Helicopter Services (BIH), owned by Bristow Group, is a British-owned helicopter operator. It operates a fleet of ten helicopters covering search and rescue, offshore, defence, charter and flying training activities from i ...
suffers an engine fire and
ditches
A ditch is a small to moderate divot created to channel water. A ditch can be used for drainage, to drain water from low-lying areas, alongside roadways or fields, or to channel water from a more distant source for plant irrigation. Ditches ar ...
into the
North Sea
The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. An epeiric sea, epeiric sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the ...
off the
Shetland Islands. All 21 people on board are rescued.
1990
*27 August – A
Bell 206 helicopter
crashes into the side of a ski slope in
Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Elkhorn is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located southwest of Milwaukee. As of the 2020 census, it was home to 10,247 people, up from 10,084 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat.
Geography
Elkhorn is located ...
, killing all five people on board including
Stevie Ray Vaughan.
1991
*4 April – A
Bell 412 and
Piper Aerostar
The Piper Aerostar (formerly Ted Smith Aerostar) is an American twin-engined propeller-driven executive or light transport aircraft, designed by Ted R. Smith. It was originally built by Ted Smith Aircraft Company, which after 1978 became part o ...
collide in mid-air in a suburb of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
. All five people on both aircraft, including United States senator
John Heinz
Henry John Heinz III (October 23, 1938 – April 4, 1991) was an American businessman and Republican politician from Pennsylvania. Heinz represented the Pittsburgh suburbs in the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1977 and ...
, along with two children on the ground, are killed.
*25 October – A
Bell 206 crashes into a high-voltage transmission tower near
Vallejo, California
Vallejo ( ; ) is a city in Solano County, California and the second largest city in the North Bay region of the Bay Area. Located on the shores of San Pablo Bay, the city had a population of 126,090 at the 2020 census. Vallejo is home to th ...
, during bad weather. All three on board are killed, including
Bill Graham.
*20 November – A
Mil Mi-8 belonging to the Azerbaijani Government is
shot down by the Armenian military during the
Nagorno-Karabakh War and crashes near
Karakend
Berdashen ( hy, Բերդաշեն, translation=village of the fortress) or Karakend ( hy, Քարաքենդ; az, Qarakənd, translation=black village) is a village ''de facto'' in the Martuni Province of the breakaway Republic of Artsakh, ''d ...
. All 22 people on board are killed.
1992
*28 January – An Azerbaijani
Mil Mi-8 is
shot down near
Shusha
/ hy, Շուշի
, settlement_type = City
, image_skyline = ShushaCollection2021.jpg
, image_caption = Landmarks of Shusha, from top left:Ghazanchetsots Cathedral • Yukhari Govha ...
by Armenian forces. All 44 people on board are killed.
1993
*26 November –
Aérospatiale AS 355 F1 ZK-HIT of the
New Zealand Police collides in mid-air with
Piper Archer ZK-ENX over
Auckland
Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...
. Both aircraft crash, killing all four people on board.
1994
*2 June –
Boeing Chinook HC2 ZD576 of the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...
crashes on the
Mull of Kintyre
The Mull of Kintyre is the southwesternmost tip of the Kintyre Peninsula (formerly ''Cantyre'') in southwest Scotland. From here, the Antrim coast of Northern Ireland is visible on a calm and clear day, and a historic lighthouse, the second ...
,
Argyll
Argyll (; archaically Argyle, in modern Gaelic, ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a historic county and registration county of western Scotland.
Argyll is of ancient origin, and corresponds to most of the part of the ancient kingdom of ...
. All 29 people on board are killed.
1995
*19 January –
Aérospatiale AS332 Super Puma G-TIGK, operating Bristow Flight 56C is struck by lightning and
ditches in the
North Sea
The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. An epeiric sea, epeiric sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the ...
off the coast of
Aberdeenshire. All eighteen people on board survive.
1997
*4 February – Two
Sikorsky S-65C-3 Yas'ur 2000s of the
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force (IAF; he, זְרוֹעַ הָאֲוִיר וְהֶחָלָל, Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal, tl, "Air and Space Arm", commonly known as , ''Kheil HaAvir'', "Air Corps") operates as the aerial warfare branch of the Israel Defens ...
collide in mid-air over
She'ar Yashuv
She'ar Yashuv ( he, שְׁאָר יָשׁוּב) is a moshav in northern Israel. Located in the Upper Galilee in the northeastern Hula Valley, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mevo'ot HaHermon Regional Council. In it had a population of .
Th ...
and crash. All 73 people on board the two aircraft are killed.
*8 September –
Eurocopter AS332L Super Puma LN-OPG operating Helikopter Service Flight 451 suffers a mechanical failure and
crashes into the
Norwegian Sea
The Norwegian Sea ( no, Norskehavet; is, Noregshaf; fo, Norskahavið) is a marginal sea, grouped with either the Atlantic Ocean or the Arctic Ocean, northwest of Norway between the North Sea and the Greenland Sea, adjoining the Barents Sea to ...
. All twelve people on board are killed.
2001
*17 September – A
Mil Mi-8 of the
Russian Armed Forces is
shot down at
Grozny
Grozny ( rus, Грозный, p=ˈgroznɨj; ce, Соьлжа-ГӀала, translit=Sölƶa-Ġala), also spelled Groznyy, is the capital city of Chechnya, Russia.
The city lies on the Sunzha River. According to the 2010 census, it had a po ...
, Chechnya. All thirteen people on board are killed.
2002
*27 January – A
Mil Mi-8 of the
Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (MVD; russian: Министерство внутренних дел (МВД), ''Ministerstvo vnutrennikh del'') is the interior ministry of Russia.
The MVD is responsible for law enfor ...
is
shot down near
Shelkovskaya
Shelkovskaya (russian: Шелковская; ce, Мохне, lit. ''place where is wind'' or Шелковски; ''Moxne'', ''Şelkovski'') is a rural locality (a ''stanitsa'') and the administrative center of Shelkovskoy District of the Chechen ...
, Chechnya. All fourteen people on board are killed.
*16 July –
Sikorsky S-76A G-BJVX of
Bristow Helicopters crashes into the
North Sea
The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. An epeiric sea, epeiric sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the ...
off the coast of
Norfolk
Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...
following the loss of its rotor head in flight. All eleven people on board are killed.
*19 August – A
Mil Mi-26
The Mil Mi-26 (russian: link=no, Миль Ми-26, NATO reporting name: Halo) is a Soviet/Russian heavy transport helicopter. Its product code is ''Izdeliye 90''. Operated by both military and civilian operators, it is the largest and most po ...
of the
Russian Air Force is
shot down by Chechen separatists and crashes at
Khankala
Khankala (russian: Ханкала, ce, Хан-ГӀала, translit=Ẋan-Ġala) is a settlement in Groznensky District of the Chechen Republic, Russia, located to the east of Grozny, the republic's capital. Population:
The settlement is the lo ...
, Chechnya. One hundred and twenty-seven people are killed.
2003
*4 December – A
Mil Mi-8 of the
Polish Air Force crashes near
Piaseczno
Piaseczno is a town in east-central Poland with 47,660 inhabitants.
It is situated in the Masovian Voivodeship, within the Warsaw metropolitan area, just south of Warsaw, approximately south of its center. It is a popular residential area and ...
. All fifteen people on board, including the Polish Prime Minister,
Leszek Miller
Leszek Cezary Miller (Polish pronunciation: ; born 3 July 1946) is a Polish politician. He has served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since July 2019.
From 1989 to 1990 was a member of the Politburo of the Polish United Workers' P ...
, survive.
2005
*26 January – A
Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is a heavy-lift helicopter operated by the United States military. As the Sikorsky S-80, it was developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion, mainly by adding a third engine, adding a seventh blade to the main rotor, ...
crashes while flying during a sandstorm in the
Al-Anbar
Al Anbar Governorate ( ar, محافظة الأنبار; ''muḥāfaẓat al-’Anbār''), or Anbar Province, is the largest governorate in Iraq by area. Encompassing much of the country's western territory, it shares borders with Syria, Jordan, ...
province of western
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...
, near the town of
Ar-Rutbah. All 31 occupants were killed.
*10 August –
Sikorsky S-76C+ OH-HCI, operating Copterline Flight 103,
crashes into
Tallinn Bay
Tallinn Bay ( et, Tallinna laht) is a bay in Estonia on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. The Estonian capital city Tallinn is located on the southern coast of the bay.
Tallinn Bay itself is divided into several parts: Tallinn Roadstea ...
. All fourteen people on board are killed.
2006
*10 December –
Bell 412SP N410MA of
Mercy Air Services, Inc. crashes near
Hesperia, California
Hesperia is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is located north of downtown San Bernardino in Victor Valley and surrounded by the Mojave Desert. Because of its relatively high elevation and the unique and moderate w ...
. All three people on board are killed.
*27 December –
Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin G-BLUN of
CHC Helicopter
CHC Helicopter is a Texas-based helicopter services company.
CHC Helicopter maintains it global headquarters in Irving, Texas and operates more than 250 aircraft in 30 countries around the world. CHC's major international operating units are b ...
crashes into
Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay is a large estuary in northwest England, just to the south of the Lake District National Park. It is the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand in the United Kingdom, covering a total area of . In 1974, the second larges ...
. All six people on board are killed.
2007
*5 March – An
Aérospatiale AS 332C1 Super Puma collide in mid-air with a smaller
Diamond DV20 Katana
The Diamond DV20/DA20 Katana is an Austrian-designed two-seat general aviation light aircraft. Developed and manufactured by Diamond Aircraft, it was originally produced in Austria as the DV20.
The DV20 shares many features from the earlier Diam ...
near the
Zell am See Airport
Zell am See Airport (german: Flugplatz Zell am See, ) is a public use airport located south of Zell am See, Salzburg, Austria. Usable for airplanes up to 5.7 tonnes.
See also
*List of airports in Austria
This is a list of airports in Austria, ...
in Austria. All eight people on board the two aircraft were killed.
*27 April – A
Mil Mi-8 of the
Russian Air Force crashes near
Shatoy, Chechnya. All twenty people on board are killed.
*3 June – A
Mil Mi-8 of
Paramount Airlines crashes at
Lungi, Sierra Leone
Lungi is a coastal town in Port Loko District in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. The town lies approximately north of the district Capital city, capital Port Loko and had a population of 4,185 in the 2004 census.Republic of Sierra Leone: ...
. At least 21 of the 22 people on board are killed.
*27 July – Two
Eurocopter AS350 AStars collide in mid-air above
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1,608,139 residents as of 2020. It is the fifth-most populous city in the United States, and the on ...
. All four people on board the two aircraft are killed.
*15 September – A
Eurocopter AS350B2 Squirrel piloted by Scottish
rally
Rally or rallye may refer to:
Gatherings
* Demonstration (political), a political rally, a political demonstration of support or protest, march, or parade
* Pep rally, an event held at a United States school or college sporting event
Sport ...
driver
Colin McRae
Colin Steele McRae, (5 August 1968 – 15 September 2007) was a Scottish rally driver. He was the 1991 and 1992 British Rally Champion, and in 1995 became the first British driver and the youngest person to win the World Rally Championship ...
crashed at
Lanark
Lanark (; gd, Lannraig ; sco, Lanrik) is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, located 20 kilometres to the south-east of Hamilton. The town lies on the River Clyde, at its confluence with Mouse Water. In 2016, the town had a population of 9 ...
,
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...
. McRae, his five-year-old son Johnny, and two family friends on board were killed.
2008
*12 January –
Mil Mi-17 transport helicopter
A military transport aircraft, military cargo aircraft or airlifter is a military-owned transport aircraft used to support military operations by airlifting troops and military equipment. Transport aircraft are crucial to maintaining supply l ...
belonging to the
Armed Forces of the Republic of Macedonia crashes near the village of Blace, in the region of
Katlanovo,
[11 ARM soldiers die in copter crash near Katlanovo](_blank)
''Macedonian Information Agency''. approximately 10–15 kilometres south-east of
Skopje
Skopje ( , , ; mk, Скопје ; sq, Shkup) is the capital and List of cities in North Macedonia by population, largest city of North Macedonia. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre.
The territory of Sk ...
. All 11 individuals aboard the helicopter, including eight passengers and three crew members, are killed.
[Macedonian helicopter crash kills 11](_blank)
by Ognen Teofilovski. ''The Age
''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory ...
''. 13 January 2008.
2009
*17 January – A
Eurocopter AS 532
The Eurocopter AS532 Cougar (now Airbus Helicopters H215M) is a twin-engine, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter developed by France. The AS532 is a development and upgrade of the Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma in its militarized form. Its civil ...
of the
French Navy
The French Navy (french: Marine nationale, lit=National Navy), informally , is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in t ...
crashes shortly after take-off from the
amphibious assault ship
An amphibious assault ship is a type of amphibious warfare ship employed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory by an amphibious assault. The design evolved from aircraft carriers converted for use as helicopter carriers (and, a ...
off the coast of Gabon. Eight of the ten people on board are killed.
*12 March – A
Sikorsky S-92 suffers a mechanical failure and
ditches in the
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
off the coast of
Newfoundland, Canada. Seventeen of the eighteen people on board are killed.
*25 March – A
Bell 206L-4 LongRanger crashes into Mount Keş, Turkey, killing all six people on board.
*1 April – A
Eurocopter AS332L2 Super Puma Mk 2 of
Bond Offshore Helicopters suffers a mechanical failure and
crashes into the
North Sea
The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. An epeiric sea, epeiric sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the ...
off the coast of
Aberdeenshire. All sixteen people on board are killed.
*3 May – A
Mil Mi-35
The Soviet and later Russian Mil Mi-24 helicopter has been produced in many variants, as described below.
History
In 1966, Soviet aircraft designer Mikhail Mil created a mock-up design of a new helicopter (derived from the Mil Mi-8) which was ...
of the
Venezuelan Army crashes in
Táchira
Táchira State ( es, Estado Táchira, ) is one of the 24 states of Venezuela. The state capital is San Cristóbal.
Táchira State covers a total surface area of and as of the 2011 census, had a population of 1,168,908. At the end of the 19t ...
province. All eighteen people on board are killed.
*3 July – A Pakistan Army
Mil Mi-17 helicopter
crashes in
Khyber Pass,
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 243 million people, and has the world's second-lar ...
, killing all 41 people on board.
*8 August – A
Eurocopter AS350
Airbus Helicopters SAS (formerly Eurocopter Group) is the helicopter manufacturing division of Airbus. It is the largest in the industry in terms of revenues and turbine helicopter deliveries. Its head office is located at Marseille Provence Ai ...
collides with a
Piper PA-32R
The Piper PA-32R is a six-seat, high-performance, single engined, all-metal, fixed-wing aircraft produced by Piper Aircraft of Vero Beach, Florida. The design began life as the Piper Lance, a retractable-gear version of the Piper Cherokee Six. ...
over the
Hudson River
The Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern New York. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York and flows southward through the Hudson Valley to the New York Harbor between N ...
between
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken ( ; Unami: ') is a city in Hudson County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 60,417. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 58,690 i ...
and
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
, United States. The six occupants of the helicopter and the three occupants of the Piper aircraft all perish.
*2 September – Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister
Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy's
Bell 430 helicopter
crashes, killing all five people on board.
2010
*26 July – A
Sikorsky CH-53 Yas'ur of the
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force (IAF; he, זְרוֹעַ הָאֲוִיר וְהֶחָלָל, Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal, tl, "Air and Space Arm", commonly known as , ''Kheil HaAvir'', "Air Corps") operates as the aerial warfare branch of the Israel Defens ...
crashes in the
Bucegi Mountains, Romania. All seven people on board are killed.
2011
*19 April –
Mil Mi-172 VT-PHF of
Pawan Hans
Pawan Hans Limited is a central public sector undertaking based at Noida in Delhi NCR, India. It is under the ownership of Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India. It has cumulatively flown more than 1 million hours and has had ...
crashes on landing at
Tawang
Tawang is a town and administrative headquarter of Tawang district in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The town was once the capital of the Tawang Tract, which is now divided into the Tawang district and the West Kameng district. Tawan ...
, India. Seventeen of the 23 people on board are killed.
*6 August – A
Boeing CH-47 Chinook of the United States Military is
shot down by a
rocket propelled grenade
A rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) is a shoulder-fired missile weapon that launches rockets equipped with an explosive warhead. Most RPGs can be carried by an individual soldier, and are frequently used as anti-tank weapons. These warheads ar ...
in Afghanistan. All 38 people on board and a military dog are killed.
2012
*10 June – A
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil
The Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil (or Squirrel), now Airbus Helicopters H125, is a single-engine light utility helicopter originally designed and manufactured in France by Aérospatiale and Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters). In North America, ...
of the
Kenya Police
)
, formedyear = 1906
, formedmonthday =
, preceding1 =
, dissolved =
, superseding =
, employees = approx. 101,000=
, volunteers =
, budget =
, country = Kenya
, ...
crashes in the Ngong Forest. All six people on board are killed.
*21 December –
Mil Mi-8 RA-27003, operating as United Nations Flight 544, is
shot down by the
Sudan People's Liberation Army in a friendly fire incident at
Likuangole,
South Sudan
South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the ...
, killing all five people on board.
2013
*16 January – Castle Air
AgustaWestland AW109
The AgustaWestland AW109, originally the Agusta A109, is a lightweight, twin-engine, eight-seat multi-purpose helicopter designed and initially produced by the Italian rotorcraft manufacturer Agusta. It was the first all-Italian helicopter to ...
G-CRST collides with a crane at
Vauxhall
Vauxhall ( ) is a district in South West London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. Vauxhall was part of Surrey until 1889 when the County of London was created. Named after a medieval manor, "Fox Hall", it became well known for ...
,
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
and
crashes. The pilot is killed, as is a pedestrian.
*21 March – A
Eurocopter EC155
The Eurocopter EC155 (now Airbus Helicopters H155) is a long-range medium-lift passenger transport helicopter developed by Eurocopter from its Dauphin family for civil aviation use. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up to 13 passenge ...
and a
Eurocopter AS332
The Airbus Helicopters H215 (formerly Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma) is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-size utility helicopter developed and initially produced by the French aerospace company Aérospatiale. It has been subsequently manufactur ...
Super Puma
collide on the ground near the
Olympic Stadium
''Olympic Stadium'' is the name usually given to the main stadium of an Olympic Games. An Olympic stadium is the site of the opening and closing ceremonies. Many, though not all, of these venues actually contain the words ''Olympic Stadium'' as ...
in Berlin, leaving one crew member dead.
*7 April – A Helipac
Mil Mi8-PS crashes in the
Loreto Region of Peru. All 13 people on board are killed.
*2 July –
Polar Airlines
Polar Airlines (russian: Полярные авиалинии, ''Poljarnýe avialinii'') is an airline based in Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, Russia. It operates scheduled and charter passenger and cargo services. In 2020, it became part of Russia's ...
Mil Mi-8 RA-22657
crashes near
Deputatsky,
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...
. Twenty-four of the 28 people on board are killed.
*23 August – A CHC Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma Mk 2
crashes into the sea 2 nm from Sumburgh in the Shetland Islands, Scotland while en route from Borgsten Dolphin oil platform. The accident kills four of the passengers; twelve other passengers and two crew were rescued.
*29 November – A
Police Scotland
Police Scotland ( gd, Poileas Alba), officially the Police Service of Scotland (), is the national police force of Scotland. It was formed in 2013, through the merging of eight regional police forces in Scotland, as well as the specialist service ...
EC135 T2
crashes into a pub in
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
, Scotland. Three occupants of the aircraft are killed, as are seven pub patrons.
2014
*13 March –
AgustaWestland AW139
The AgustaWestland AW139 is a medium-lift twin-engined helicopter developed and produced by the Anglo-Italian helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland, later wholly owned by Leonardo S.p.A. It is marketed at several different roles, including V ...
G-LBAL of Haughey Air
crashes shortly after take-off from
Gillingham, Norfolk
Gillingham ( ) is a small village located just off the A146 in South Norfolk, about 1 mile north of the market town of Beccles. The full name of the parish is Gillingham All Saints and St Mary. It covers an area of and had a population of 650 ...
, killing all four people on board
*12 November – an Armenian
Mil Mi-24
The Mil Mi-24 (russian: Миль Ми-24; NATO reporting name: Hind) is a large helicopter gunship, attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for eight passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and has been ...
is
shot down near
Gəngərli village,
Aghdam,
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Artsakh, officially the Republic of Artsakh () or the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (),, is a breakaway state in the South Caucasus whose territory is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan. Artsakh controls a part of the former N ...
, killing all three crew members.
2015
*9 March – Two
Eurocopter AS350B3 Ecureuils LQ-CGK and LQ-FJQ
collide in mid-air and crash, killing all ten people on board.
*10 March – A United States Army
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky submitted the S-70 design for the United States Army's Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System ( ...
crashes off the coast of the
Florida Panhandle during a training exercise, killing all eleven people on board.
*On 8 May 2015, a
Pakistan Army Mi-17 crashes near the Naltar area of Gilgit in Gilgit-Baltistan, killing the Norwegian and Philippine ambassadors and the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian ambassadors. Two Army pilots, Major Al-Tamash and Major Faisal, are also killed. The Polish and Dutch ambassadors are injured.
*4 August – A
UH-60 Black Hawk
The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky submitted the S-70 design for the United States Army's Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System ( ...
helicopter
crashes in northwestern
Colombia, killing 16 of the 18 people on board
*21 November – A
Eurocopter AS350D Astar helicopter
crashes on
Fox Glacier
Fox Glacier (; officially Fox Glacier / Te Moeka o Tuawe) is a temperate maritime glacier located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. Like nearby Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier is one of ...
in the
South Island of New Zealand, killing all seven people on board.
2016
*14 January – Two U.S. Marine Corps CH53E helicopters
collide off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, killing all 12 passengers on board.
*29 April – A CHC Helikopter Service
Eurocopter EC225
The Airbus Helicopters H225 (previously Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma) is a long-range passenger transport helicopter developed by Eurocopter as the next generation of the civilian Super Puma family. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up ...
crashes near Turøy, Norway. All thirteen people on board are killed.
*26 June – A Colombian Army Mil Mi-17
crashes in mountainous terrain 180 km north-west of Bogota, killing all 17 passengers on board.
*6 July 2016 – Prototype
Bell 525 Relentless crashes near
Italy, Texas
Italy ( , unlike the country Italy) is a town in Ellis County, Texas, United States. Its population was 1,926 in 2020.
The community was named after Italy by a settler who had visited the European country.
History
Italy was founded in 1879 by ...
, destroying the prototype
Bell 525 Relentless
The Bell 525 Relentless is an American super-medium-lift helicopter, under development by Bell Textron. The Bell 525 was unveiled at the 2012 Heli-Expo in Dallas, Texas in February 2012. The helicopter first flew on 1 July 2015. It is designed ...
helicopter and killing the two occupants.
*21 October – A
Skol Airlines Mil Mi-8
crashes in Siberia's
Yamal Peninsula
The Yamal Peninsula (russian: полуостров Ямал, poluostrov Yamal) is located in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug of northwest Siberia, Russia. It extends roughly 700 km (435 mi) and is bordered principally by the Kara ...
, killing 19 of the 22 people on board.
2017
*10 March – A
Sikorsky S-76 crashes in
Istanbul
)
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code = 34000 to 34990
, area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side)
, registration_plate = 34
, blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD
, blank_i ...
, killing all seven people on board.
*14 March – A
Sikorsky S-92 crashes off
County Mayo on
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
′s west coast. All four crew members die.
2018
*17 January – A
Bell UH-1H
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois (nicknamed "Huey") is a utility military helicopter designed and produced by the American aerospace company Bell Helicopter. It is the first member of the prolific Huey family, as well as the first turbine-powered hel ...
Iroquois helicopter
crashes and catches fire near
Raton, New Mexico
Raton ( ) is a city and the county seat of Colfax County in northeastern New Mexico. The city is located just south of Raton Pass. The city is also located about 6.5 miles south of the New Mexico–Colorado border and 85 miles west of Texas.
His ...
, killing five of the six people on board.
*27 October – An
AgustaWestland AW169
The AgustaWestland AW169 is a twin-engine, 10-seat, 4.8t helicopter developed and manufactured by the helicopter division of Leonardo (formerly AgustaWestland, merged into Finmeccanica since 2016). It was designed to share similarities with the ...
helicopter carrying
Leicester City F.C. chairman
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha ( th, วิชัย ศรีวัฒนประภา;} born Vichai Raksriaksorn, th, วิชัย รักศรีอักษร; 4 April 1958 – 27 October 2018) was a Thai billionaire businessman and t ...
crashes and catches fire outside the
King Power Stadium
King Power Stadium (also known as the Leicester City Stadium due to UEFA sponsorship regulations and formerly known as the Walkers Stadium) is a football stadium in Leicester, England. It has been the home of Premier League club Leicester City ...
in
Leicester,
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
, killing all five people on board.
2020
*
*26 January – A
Sikorsky S-76 helicopter carrying retired basketball player
Kobe Bryant, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Maria "Gigi" Bryant,
crashes outside of
Calabasas, California
Calabasas (from Spanish ''calabazas'' "gourds") is a city in the southwestern region of the San Fernando Valley, between the foothills of the Santa Monica and Santa Susanna mountains.[Turkish Air Force
The Turkish Air Force ( tr, ) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. The Turkish Air Force can trace its origins back to June 1911 when it was founded by the Ottoman Empire, however, the air force as it is known to ...]
(TAF)
Eurocopter AS532 Cougar
The Eurocopter AS532 Cougar (now Airbus Helicopters H215M) is a twin-engine, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter developed by France. The AS532 is a development and upgrade of the Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma in its militarized form. Its civil ...
, en route to
Tatvan District in
Bitlis
Bitlis ( hy, Բաղեշ '; ku, Bidlîs; ota, بتليس) is a city in southeastern Turkey and the capital of Bitlis Province. The city is located at an elevation of 1,545 metres, 15 km from Lake Van, in the steep-sided valley of the Bitlis R ...
,
Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...
,
crashes in Bitlis Province. Eleven servicemen on board are killed in the crash, while two other servicemen survive.
*5 March – A
Robinson R44
The Robinson R44 is a four-seat light helicopter produced by Robinson Helicopter Company since 1992. Based on the company's two-seat Robinson R22, the R44 features hydraulically assisted flight controls. It was first flown on 31 March 1990 a ...
helicopter carrying Botswana musician
Sasa Klaas
Sarona Motlhagodi (17 May 1993 – 5 March 2021), known professionally as Sasa Klaas, was a Botswana singer, rapper, and songwriter. She was born on 17 May 1993 in Botswana and raised by a single mother and politician Anna Mokgethi. She was an a ...
,
crashes in the outskirts of Xumabee near
Sojwe. Klaas is killed, but the pilot survives.
*7 March – A
Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil
The Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil (or Squirrel), now Airbus Helicopters H125, is a single-engine light utility helicopter originally designed and manufactured in France by Aérospatiale and Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters). In North America, ...
carrying French billionaire
Olivier Dassault crashes shortly after takeoff in northwestern
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
near
Deauville
Deauville () is a commune in the Calvados department, Normandy, northwestern France. Major attractions include its harbour, race course, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino, and sumptuous hotels. The first Deauville Asian Film F ...
. Dassault and the pilot, the only people on board, are both killed.
* 8 December – In the
2021 Indian Air Force Mil Mi-17 crash
On 8 December 2021, a Mil Mi-17, Mil Mi-17V-5 transport helicopter operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed between Coimbatore and Wellington Cantonment, Wellington in Tamil Nadu, after departing from Sulur Air Force Station. The helicopte ...
, a
Mil Mi-17 helicopter carrying the Chief of Defence Staff of India General
Bipin Rawat
General Bipin Rawat (16 March 1958 – 8 December 2021) was an Indian military officer who was a four-star general of the Indian Army. He served as the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces from January 2020 u ...
and 13 others crash near
Coonoor
Coonoor, natively spelt as Kunnur (), is a Taluk and a municipality of the Nilgiris district in the Indian State of Tamil Nadu. As of 2011, the town had a population of 45,494.
Demographics
According to 2011 census, Coonoor had a populatio ...
in
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...
, killing all the 14 on board.
2023
* 2 January – Two
Eurocopter EC130s collided near
Sea World in
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, killing four people and injuring eight.
* 18 January - A
Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma
The Airbus Helicopters H225 (previously Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma) is a long-range passenger transport helicopter developed by Eurocopter as the next generation of the civilian Super Puma family. It is a twin-engined aircraft and can carry up ...
carrying the
Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine,
Denys Monastyrsky
Denys Anatoliiovych Monastyrsky ( uk, Денис Анатолійович Монастирський; born 12 June 1980) is a Ukrainian lawyer and politician who has been Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs since 16 July 2021.[crashed
"Crashed" is the third U.S. rock Single (music), single, (the fifth overall), from the band Daughtry (band), Daughtry's debut album. It was released only to U.S. rock stations on September 5, 2007. Upon its release the song got adds at those stat ...]
at a kindergarten in
Brovary
Brovary ( uk, Бровари, , yi, בראָוואַר, Brovar) is a city in Kyiv Oblast (Region) in northern Ukraine, an eastern suburb of the country's capital, Kyiv. It is the administrative centre of Brovary Raion (district). Brovar ...
, a suburb of
Kyiv
Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe.
Kyi ...
. The crash killed at least eighteen people, including Monastyrsky, while at least 29 others were injured.
* 29 March - Two U.S. Army
Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk
The Sikorsky MH-60G/HH-60G Pave Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It is a derivative of the UH-60 Black Hawk and incorporates the US Air Force PAVE electronic systems ...
helicopters
collided during a training mission over
Trigg County, Kentucky
Trigg County is a county located on the far southwestern border of the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,061. Its county seat is Cadiz. Formed in 1820, the county was named for Stephen Trigg, an officer in t ...
, killing all 9 people on board.
References
{{Lists of aviation accidents and incidents
Helicopters
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attributes ...
Helicopter accidents