Two tourists were injured and taken to the hospital after a helicopter crash-landed in China. The helicopter, part of a sightseeing tour, unexpectedly lost control and struck the spectators, causing head injuries to both individuals, with one sustaining more severe wounds. The incident occurred in Qinghai Province. The yellow gyroplane was performing a low-altitude flight as part of a three-aircraft formation when it spiraled out of control, emitting smoke before crashing into the ground, hitting the onlookers.
The crash transpired at the Chaka Sky No. 1 Scenic Area near a salt lake in Qinghai Province. The injured tourists were promptly transported to Ulan County People’s Hospital and later transferred to a larger medical facility in Haixi Prefecture. Authorities from the Ulan County Joint Investigation Group confirmed that a self-rotating rotorcraft crash-landed, injuring two individuals on the ground. The victims are currently in stable condition. The investigation is ongoing, with initial suspicions pointing towards wake turbulence from a nearby gyroplane as a potential trigger for the loss of control.
The occupants of the Harbin XLI gyroplane, capable of carrying two to three people, escaped unharmed in the incident. In a separate aviation-related tragedy in China, an influencer tragically died in front of over 1,000 fans during a livestream last September. Tang Feiji, known for his flying content on social media, crashed his ultralight aircraft in Jiange County, China, causing it to burst into flames. Despite the viewers’ distressing pleas for help, Tang, 55, succumbed to the impact and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tang, a popular figure on the internet in Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, had a significant following on the Chinese social media platform Douyin. Just before the fatal crash, he landed briefly to adjust his camera before taking off again. Notably, the influencer was not wearing any safety gear like a helmet or parachute during the ill-fated flight.