Cape Town, South Africa: A firefighting helicopter operating over the slopes of Hout Bay in Table Mountain National Park crashed on the evening of 25 March 2026 while assisting efforts to contain a rapidly spreading wildfire, authorities confirmed.
The aircraft, contracted to support firefighting operations coordinated by South African National Parks, went down in mountainous terrain between Hout Bay and Constantia Nek during active aerial suppression efforts.
Preliminary reports indicate the helicopter encountered difficulty while conducting water-dropping operations over the fire zone. Officials stated that the aircraft likely clipped the mountainside with its main rotor before crashing.
Witness accounts and local authorities reported that the helicopter descended shortly after impact, with flames and smoke visible at the crash site.
The pilot survived the crash, with reports consistently confirming that no fatalities occurred. Initial updates indicated the pilot was rescued alive with injuries.
Authorities described the survival as remarkable given the challenging terrain and operational conditions.
A large-scale emergency response was immediately activated, involving:
- Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR)
- SANParks
- Kishugu Aviation
- Netcare24
- City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services
- Local law enforcement units
Rescue teams were deployed to access the mountainous crash site, while an Incident Management Team was established to coordinate operations and secure the area.
Authorities also managed a secondary fire triggered by the crash, as firefighting operations continued in the surrounding area.
The helicopter had been actively engaged in combating a wildfire that ignited on 24 March 2026 along the Hout Bay slopes.
- The blaze spread across mountainous terrain between Hout Bay and Constantia Nek
- Approximately 160 hectares of vegetation were affected
- Strong winds contributed to flare-ups and fire spread
Multiple aerial assets, including helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, had been deployed to support ground firefighting crews.
As a precaution, authorities closed hiking trails and access routes in the affected areas to ensure public safety and allow uninterrupted firefighting operations.
SANParks confirmed that an investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the crash. In an official statement, the agency said it is unable to provide further details at this stage as inquiries remain ongoing.
