Helicopter Crash Archives - Aviation Today

Cedar City, United States: A training helicopter operated by the aviation program of Southern Utah University crashed at Cedar City Regional Airport on Saturday morning, leaving a pilot and a student pilot injured and prompting a federal investigation into the accident. According to authorities, the crash occurred on May 23, 2026, at Cedar City Airport in Iron County, Utah. Officers from the Cedar City Police Department responded to the scene after receiving reports of an accident involving an SUU helicopter used for flight training operations. Police said two people were onboard the aircraft at the time of the accident, a pilot instructor and a student pilot. Both occupants survived the crash and were transported to Cedar City Hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Officials confirmed the helicopter sustained significant damage during the accident. However, no additional injuries were reported on the ground and no other property was damaged. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the helicopter type, registration number, flight phase, or the exact cause of the crash. “We are aware of the accident involving an SUU helicopter at the Cedar City Airport this morning,” SUU public relations director Brooke Heath said in a brief written statement. “The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our top priority, and we are working closely with the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to investigate the incident,” Heath’s statement concluded. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the incident. Federal investigators are expected to examine operational records, maintenance history, weather conditions, pilot training procedures, and wreckage evidence to determine the cause of the crash. Southern Utah University operates one of the largest collegiate helicopter training fleets in the United States through its aviation division based in Cedar City. The university’s rotorcraft training program uses helicopters for commercial pilot, instructor, mountain flying, and emergency procedure training. Cedar City Regional Airport, located about two miles northwest of Cedar City, is a major hub for flight training activity in southern Utah and hosts both fixed-wing and rotorcraft operations. As of now, officials have not released additional details regarding the sequence of events leading to the crash, and the investigation remains ongoing.

SUU Flight Training Helicopter Crash In Utah Injures Instructor And Student Pilot

Aviation Today News Desk / May 27, 2026

Cedar City, United States: A training helicopter operated by the aviation program of Southern Utah University crashed at Cedar City […]

Aircraft Crashes

Two Onboard Killed In Chartered Helicopter Crash In New Zealand National Park

Aviation Today News Desk / May 18, 2026

Wellington, New Zealand: Two experienced aviation and hunting professionals were killed after a chartered helicopter crashed in remote alpine terrain

Helicopter Crash

Helicopter Crash In Ticino Injures Six After 20-Metre Fall, Cause Under Investigation

Aviation Today News Desk / May 5, 2026

Mezzovico-Vira, Switzerland: A helicopter crash in Mezzovico-Vira left six people injured on Monday afternoon after the aircraft fell from a

Helicopter Crash

Two Injured After Light Helicopter Crashes And Catches Fire In Thailand’s Samut Prakan

Aviation Today News Desk / May 4, 2026

Samut Prakan, Thailand: A light helicopter crashed and caught fire shortly after takeoff in Thailand’s Samut Prakan province on Sunday

El Alto, Bolivia: Bolivian authorities have arrested the pilot and co-pilot of a Bolivian Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules following an official investigation that concluded the February 2026 crash near La Paz was preventable and largely linked to operational errors during landing. The aircraft crashed on February 27, 2026, while attempting to land at El Alto International Airport, after completing a domestic flight from Santa Cruz. During landing in adverse weather, the aircraft failed to decelerate on the runway, veered off the surface, breached the airport perimeter, and ploughed into a busy roadway, striking multiple vehicles before breaking apart in a densely populated area. The crash resulted in 24 fatalities and at least 43 injuries, with the majority of victims on the ground. Among the dead were civilians, including passengers in public transport vehicles hit by the aircraft. Several crew members were also injured, making it one of Bolivia’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent decades. Initial reports had indicated a lower death toll, but the number rose significantly as rescue teams recovered victims from the wreckage and surrounding impact zone. The situation on the ground quickly descended into chaos after it emerged that the aircraft was transporting a large consignment of newly printed banknotes for the Central Bank of Bolivia. The impact scattered currency across the crash site, drawing crowds of civilians who rushed to collect the money. Authorities deployed police and military units, including the use of tear gas, to secure the area and allow emergency responders to operate. Officials later declared the banknotes invalid, as they had not yet entered circulation, and subsequently destroyed recovered cash. A formal investigation by the Bolivian Air Force, the findings of which were released on April 30, 2026, identified a chain of operational failures rather than a single-point cause. Investigators determined that adverse weather conditions, including a wet runway and reduced braking efficiency, were contributing factors but not the primary cause. Instead, the report placed significant emphasis on pilot handling during the landing phase. According to the findings, the aircraft executed an improper landing sequence, touching down with the nose gear before the main landing gear, a critical procedural error that compromised braking effectiveness and aircraft stability. This technique reduced aerodynamic drag and delayed the full deployment of braking systems, significantly increasing stopping distance on an already wet runway. The report further highlighted inadequate coordination and communication with air traffic control, which may have affected situational awareness during the final approach and landing rollout. Investigators also pointed to failure to execute a go-around despite unstable landing conditions, a decision that could have prevented the accident altogether. Additionally, the probe noted that standard landing protocols and safety margins were not maintained, particularly given the weather conditions. The combination of these factors resulted in a runway excursion at high speed, leaving the crew unable to regain control before the aircraft exited the airfield boundary. Crucially, investigators concluded that the crash was preventable, stating that proper adherence to established landing procedures and timely decision-making would likely have avoided the accident. Based on these findings, Bolivian prosecutors issued arrest warrants for the pilot and co-pilot on April 30, with both taken into custody on May 1, 2026, following questioning. The two are currently being held in pre-trial detention and face charges of involuntary manslaughter, with authorities alleging that negligent handling of the aircraft and failure to follow standard operating procedures directly contributed to the loss of life.

Investigation

Pilot & Co-Pilot Arrested After Probe Finds Errors In Bolivian Military Plane Crash

Aviation Today News Desk / May 4, 2026

El Alto, Bolivia: Bolivian authorities have arrested the pilot and co-pilot of a Bolivian Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules following

Helicopter Crash

Helicopter Crashes Seconds After Takeoff In Brazil’s Paraíba; All Four Onboard Survive

Aviation Today News Desk / April 21, 2026

Paraíba, Brazil: A light helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff in Brazil’s northeastern state of Paraíba, leaving all four people onboard

Melawi, Indonesia: All eight people on board a helicopter were killed after the aircraft crashed in a remote, forested area of Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province, authorities confirmed on Friday, following an overnight search operation that located the wreckage in difficult terrain. The aircraft, identified as an Airbus H130 helicopter operated by Matthew Air Nusantara, lost contact shortly after takeoff on Thursday morning while flying within Melawi district in Borneo island. According to Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the helicopter disappeared from radar approximately five minutes after departure from a plantation helipad and was later found crashed about 3 kilometres from its last known contact point, in a densely forested and hilly area. “The location of the crash or loss of contact is in a densely forested area with steep hilly terrain,” said Mohammad Syafii, head of Basarnas, as quoted by Reuters. Officials confirmed that the aircraft carried six passengers and two crew members, all of whom died in the crash. The 2 crew members were identified as Pilot in Command, Captain Marindra W, and Engineer on Board, Harun Arasyid along with 6 passengers Patrick K, Victor T, Charles L, Joko C, Fauzie O, and Sugito. Rescue teams recovered wreckage, including parts believed to be the tail section of the helicopter, during the search operation involving military and police units. The plantation area from which the helicopter departed is reportedly owned by the palm oil company Citra Mahkota, according to rescue officials cited in international reports. Search and recovery efforts were significantly slowed due to dense jungle terrain and steep hills, forcing rescue teams to rely on combined aerial reconnaissance and ground movement through difficult forest access routes. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the crash. Investigators are currently examining all possible factors, including mechanical failure and weather conditions, though no official conclusion has been released. “The cause of the crash remains unclear,” Basarnas officials said, confirming that a full investigation is underway.

Helicopter Crash

Eight Killed As Helicopter Crashes In Indonesia’s West Kalimantan After Losing Contact

Aviation Today News Desk / April 17, 2026

Melawi, Indonesia: All eight people on board a helicopter were killed after the aircraft crashed in a remote, forested area

United States

U.S. Lawmakers Advance Aviation Safety Reform After Deadly Washington Midair Collision

Aviation Today News Desk / April 16, 2026

Washington, United States: The United States has moved a step closer to overhauling aviation safety rules following the passage of

Helicopter Crash

Airborne Aviation Helicopter Crashes Off Nā Pali Coast; Three Killed And Two Injured

Aviation Today News Desk / March 27, 2026

Kalalau Beach, United States: A sightseeing helicopter carrying five people crashed into waters off Kalalau Beach along the remote Nā

Helicopter Crash

Firefighting Helicopter Crashes In Hout Bay During Wildfire Operations, Pilot Survives

Aviation Today News Desk / March 26, 2026

Cape Town, South Africa: A firefighting helicopter operating over the slopes of Hout Bay in Table Mountain National Park crashed

Helicopter Crash

SUU Flight Training Helicopter Crash In Utah Injures Instructor And Student Pilot

Two Onboard Killed In Chartered Helicopter Crash In New Zealand National Park

Helicopter Crash In Ticino Injures Six After 20-Metre Fall, Cause Under Investigation

Two Injured After Light Helicopter Crashes And Catches Fire In Thailand’s Samut Prakan

Pilot & Co-Pilot Arrested After Probe Finds Errors In Bolivian Military Plane Crash

Helicopter Crashes Seconds After Takeoff In Brazil’s Paraíba; All Four Onboard Survive

Eight Killed As Helicopter Crashes In Indonesia’s West Kalimantan After Losing Contact

U.S. Lawmakers Advance Aviation Safety Reform After Deadly Washington Midair Collision

Airborne Aviation Helicopter Crashes Off Nā Pali Coast; Three Killed And Two Injured

Firefighting Helicopter Crashes In Hout Bay During Wildfire Operations, Pilot Survives

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