Investigation launched into Hout Bay helicopter crash that injured pilot
Firefighting helicopter crashes above Hout Bay, pilot hospitalised as aviation authorities launch investigation into the incident.
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The Accidents and Incidents Investigations Division has launched an investigation into a firefighting helicopter crash above Hout Bay, confirming that the pilot was injured and taken to hospital.
“The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was injured and transported to hospital,” the division said.
The AIID said the Bell UH-1H helicopter had taken off from the Newlands fire base before striking the mountainside during operations over Table Mountain.
“The information at AIID’s disposal indicate that the helicopter struck the side of the mountain, leading to the pilot losing control and the eventual crash,” it said.
Investigators have been dispatched to the site and are gathering evidence, which will form part of a preliminary report expected within 30 days.
Initial reports from authorities on the ground had indicated that the pilot had escaped unharmed following the crash during firefighting operations above Hout Bay and Constantia Nek.
The aircraft is understood to have been contracted by South African National Parks, which confirmed the incident occurred while crews were battling an active wildfire.
“The pilot is reported to be safe,” SANParks said earlier, adding that multiple emergency teams were deployed to the scene.
The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said at the time that the helicopter appeared to have clipped the mountain before crashing.
“One of the SANParks-contracted helicopters seemed to have clipped the mountain with its main rotor and crashed on the mountain,” Smith said.
Emergency teams, including Wilderness Search and Rescue, firefighting crews and medical services, were deployed to steep terrain above Hout Bay as part of a coordinated response.
The helicopter was engaged in water-bombing operations when the incident occurred, as crews worked to contain a fast-moving wildfire that has spread across parts of the southern peninsula.
The blaze, which began earlier in the week, intensified on Wednesday, reaching higher elevations and prompting the closure of hiking trails in affected areas.
Volunteer Wildfire Services said its ground crews on scene were unharmed and highlighted the risks faced by teams operating in extreme conditions.
“Helicopters are often first on the scene, operating in extremely difficult, high-risk conditions in support of fire suppression efforts,” the organisation said.
Wildfires are a recurring challenge on Table Mountain, particularly during the hot, dry summer months, often requiring large-scale responses from multiple agencies working to protect communities and natural ecosystems.
Residents in nearby areas, including Hout Bay and Constantia, have been urged to remain alert as firefighting operations continue, with authorities monitoring conditions closely and warning that shifting winds could influence the fire’s behaviour.
The crash site remains under investigation as aviation authorities continue their probe.
Further updates are expected as more information becomes available.