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Helicopter crash in South Africa blamed on 'unsecured' penguin
UPI ^ | 4/11/25 | Ben Hooper

Posted on 04/12/2025 10:44:45 AM PDT by DallasBiff

April 11 (UPI) -- The South African Civil Aviation Authority said a low-altitude helicopter crash that didn't result in any injuries was caused by an unusual passenger famous for its lack of flight experience -- a penguin.

The SACAA's incident report said the pilot and three human passengers landed on Bird Island, off the Eastern Cape, on Jan. 19, and a passenger described as a "specialist" placed a penguin from the island in a cardboard box and brought it aboard the aircraft

"The pilot conducted a risk assessment of the flight; however, he omitted to include the carriage (transportation) of the penguin on-board," the report said.

The passenger riding in the front seat of the helicopter held the box containing the penguin on his lap, securing it with his hands, but he lost his grip just after take-off and the box slid into the pilot's cyclic pitch control lever.

The lever was pushed to the far-right position, causing the helicopter to roll to the right and strike the ground with its rotors.

The report said the helicopter, which landed on its side, "sustained serious damage, but no human or penguin passengers were harmed.

(Excerpt) Read more at upi.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: aviation; penguin; southafrica
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Luckily no one was hurt, but why take a penguin? They can't be great pets, anyway the penguin probably said, you are not boxing me in.

Have fun it's saturday. .

1 posted on 04/12/2025 10:44:45 AM PDT by DallasBiff
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To: DallasBiff

My cat Toonces could do a better job of flying a helicopter.


2 posted on 04/12/2025 10:46:38 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: DallasBiff

How else do you expect a penguin to fly?


3 posted on 04/12/2025 10:47:37 AM PDT by 9YearLurker (\)
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To: DallasBiff

“Helicopter crash in South Africa blamed on ‘unsecured’ penguin”. Really? Who doesn’t secure a penguin before they’re airborne?


4 posted on 04/12/2025 10:49:43 AM PDT by kawhill (What is it you seek? Peace. Aw, Peace. Expensive to purchase.)
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To: DallasBiff

5 posted on 04/12/2025 10:52:10 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: DallasBiff

Based on the smell of the penguin enclosure at the zoo, no thanks!!


6 posted on 04/12/2025 10:58:28 AM PDT by Clay Moore (My pistol identifies as a cordless hole punch. )
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To: dfwgator

I figured they would have just got the one off the top of the Telly.


7 posted on 04/12/2025 11:02:07 AM PDT by Clay Moore (My pistol identifies as a cordless hole punch. )
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To: Clay Moore

Oh intercourse the penguin!


8 posted on 04/12/2025 11:02:35 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: DallasBiff

Unsecured penguin? What part of a helicopter is that?


9 posted on 04/12/2025 11:06:41 AM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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To: DallasBiff

The penguin on the television set will now explode…


10 posted on 04/12/2025 11:08:02 AM PDT by Skywise
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To: DallasBiff

Which distro?


11 posted on 04/12/2025 11:13:15 AM PDT by Noumenon (You can evade reality, but you cannot evade the consequences of evading reality. KTF)
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To: DallasBiff

I thought this was a joke at first since I’ve never heard of a penguin being blamed for a helicopter crash. I guess he didn’t want to leave his homeland.

I hope the passenger who dropped the box has insurance for a helicopter replacement.


12 posted on 04/12/2025 11:47:41 AM PDT by KittyKares
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To: SkyDancer

“Unsecured penguin? What part of a helicopter is that?”

Where did you get that idea?


13 posted on 04/12/2025 12:01:54 PM PDT by TexasGator (1.)
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To: DallasBiff

14 posted on 04/12/2025 12:15:35 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: DallasBiff

The penguin didn’t want to go.

Was it freed?


15 posted on 04/12/2025 12:18:41 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: TexasGator
From this?

Helicopter crash in South Africa blamed on 'unsecured' penguin

16 posted on 04/12/2025 12:19:05 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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To: SkyDancer

“From this?
Helicopter crash in South Africa blamed on ‘unsecured’ penguin”

Really?


17 posted on 04/12/2025 12:24:46 PM PDT by TexasGator (1.)
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To: TexasGator

Relax. It’s a joke.


18 posted on 04/12/2025 12:30:15 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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To: DallasBiff

Trump Penguin?


19 posted on 04/12/2025 1:24:36 PM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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To: DallasBiff
Gentlemen, when flying always secure your penguin. You never know what chaos it might cause, as demonstrated by this post's story.
20 posted on 04/12/2025 1:32:31 PM PDT by verum ago (I figure some people must truly be in love, for only love can be so blind.)
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