There’s a reason they can’t fly!
An “unsecured” penguin in a cardboard box has been blamed for a bizarre helicopter crash in South Africa, authorities said.
The flightless bird apparently caused the pilot to lose control shortly after taking off from Bird Island near the Eastern Cape back in January, a South African Civil Aviation Authority investigation recently found.
The feather-raising saga unfolded when the bird, which had been placed in the box and onto the lap of a passenger, suddenly slid forward and rammed into the pilot’s controls.
The pilot of the Robinson R44 Raven II wasn’t able to regain control — causing the chopper to roll to the right and plummet nearly 50 feet to the ground, according to a report released last week.
The four-seat helicopter suffered “substantial damage” when its main rotor blades made impact with the ground, investigators said.
“None of the occupants was injured; the penguin was also unharmed,” the report stated.
Photos included in the report showed the downed helicopter lying on its side with its windows smashed in.
Another image captured the penguin lying in the box.
“The pilot conducted a risk assessment of the flight; however, he omitted to include the carriage (transportation) of the penguin on-board,” the report stated.
“The absence of a proper, secured crate meant that the penguin’s containment was not suitable for the flight conditions.”
“The lack of secure containment for the penguin created a dangerous situation,” the report added.
It wasn’t immediately clear why they were transporting the bird.
One internet commenter quipped, “God will do anything to keep those penguins flightless.”