Watch: Pilot survives helicopter crash during firefighting operations in Hout Bay
Firefighting helicopter crashes on slopes above Hout Bay, pilot escapes unharmed as emergency teams respond.
Image: Supplied
A helicopter assisting with firefighting operations above Hout Bay and Constantia Nek crashed on the slopes of Table Mountain National Park on Wednesday evening, with the pilot escaping unharmed.
The aircraft, understood to be contracted by South African National Parks (SANParks), went down while crews were battling an ongoing wildfire in the mountainous area.
The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said the helicopter appeared to have struck the mountain before crashing.
“While we were trying to assist SANParks with the fire burning above Hout Bay and Constantia Nek, one of the SANParks-contracted helicopters seemed to have clipped the mountain with its main rotor and crashed on the mountain,” Smith said.
He confirmed that emergency teams were immediately activated following the incident.
“The pilot seems to have survived. We have immediately activated an ‘Incident Management Team 5’ and have deployed rescue technicians up the mountain face,” he said.
In a statement, South African National Parks confirmed that the incident occurred during firefighting operations on the slopes above Hout Bay.
“The pilot is reported to be safe,” the agency said.
“Emergency teams, including Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR), SANParks, Kishugu Aviation, Netcare24, the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services and Law Enforcement, are on site supporting operations.”
Authorities said investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crash, and SANParks indicated it was unable to provide further details at this stage.
City enforcement officers were deployed to secure the crash site until the South African Police Service and the Civil Aviation Authority take over the scene.
An incident report from Fight Against Crime South Africa indicated that the crash occurred above Oakwood Estate, where firefighters made their way up the slopes to reach the pilot. The organisation reported that the pilot was unharmed.
The incident comes as firefighting efforts continue in the Hout Bay area, with crews working in difficult terrain to contain the blaze.
Authorities said further updates would be provided as more information becomes available.