The “unsecured” penguins in cardboard boxes were the cause of a helicopter crash in South Africa, incident reports found.
Shortly after taking off from Bird Island off the Eastern Cape on January 19, the penguin, resting inside the box and on the passenger's lap, slid down and knocked on the pilot's control.
South Africa's Civil Aviation Authority said the helicopters had hit the ground due to the effects. No one was injured, including the Penguin.
Authorities said the “lack of safe containment of penguins” is responsible for creating “a dangerous situation.”
According to a report released this week, the flight was conducting an aerial survey of the island in Gqeberha, in the eastern Cape province.
After completing the investigation, a helicopter landed, where experts requested that the transport of one penguin be returned to Port Elizabeth.
The report did not say why they picked up the penguins.
Aviation authorities said pilots conducted a “risk assessment” but omitted the inclusion of penguins on boards that “does not comply with Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 2011.”
Reports determined that when the helicopter was about 15m (50 feet) above the ground, the cardboard box slid down the specialist's knee to the right, causing the cyclical pitch control lever to move to the far-right position.
Unable to recover, the main rotor blade hit the ground and the helicopter finally crashed on the right board side, about 20m from the lift-off.
The helicopter caused great damage, but neither the pilot nor the passenger were injured, and the penguins were unharmed.
According to the report, all circumstances should be subject to compliance with “established safety protocols” and aviation safety procedures.
He also said that appropriate assessment of the situation and potential hazards (such as cargo shifts) should be carried out.
“The lack of a suitable and safe wooden frame meant that penguins were not suitable for flight conditions.”
