A sightseeing helicopter crashed to the ground and struck two tourists, causing head injuries, in Qinghai Province, China. The incident occurred on Tuesday at the Chaka Sky No. 1 Scenic Area beside a salt lake.
Crash details
The yellow gyroplane was performing a low-altitude demonstration flight as part of a three-aircraft formation. It suddenly spun out of control with smoke coming from the back, plummeted to the ground, veered left, and landed on two spectators.
The tourists remained conscious upon arrival at Ulan County People’s Hospital before being transferred to a larger facility in Haixi Prefecture. One suffered more serious head injuries.
Official response
Officials from the Ulan County Joint Investigation Group stated: “A self-rotating rotorcraft crash-landed, injuring two people on the ground. The victims were sent for medical treatment at the first opportunity. Their vital signs are currently stable.”
The aircraft has been seized and the scenic spot closed while the cause is investigated. Early indications suggest wake turbulence from a nearby gyroplane may have triggered the loss of control. The occupants of the Harbin XLI gyroplane, which can carry two or three people, escaped injury.
Related incident
In a separate event last September, aviation influencer Tang Feiji died in front of more than 1,000 fans when his ultralight aircraft crashed and burst into flames during a livestream in Jiange County, central China. Tang, 55, was pronounced dead at the scene. He had around 100,000 followers on Douyin and was not wearing a helmet or parachute.
