In an unprecedented event in Madrid, a two-seater yellow helicopter plunged onto a busy highway, resulting in a dramatic collision with a car. The incident, which occurred last Friday, led to injuries among three individuals, including the car driver and both occupants of the helicopter.
The crashed Enstrom 280FX Shark helicopter on the M40 near Madrid (Photo: Juan Medina/ Reuters)
According to Madrid’s emergency services, the helicopter unexpectedly descended onto the city’s circular highway, colliding with a vehicle. The impact caused significant damage to both the helicopter and the car, with emergency personnel rushing to the scene.
🇪🇦 SPAIN ▪️ Helicopter with a French-registration crashed into a car and onto the highway in Madrid. 5± were injured (12/1)
🇪🇦 Іспанія ▪️ Гелікоптер врізався в автомобіль і вилетів на шосе в Мадриді
🇪🇦 Spanien ▪️ Hubschrauber stürzte in Madrid in ein Auto und auf die Autobahn pic.twitter.com/43qToihF2t
— Breaking News 🗞️ (@AEagle98704) December 2, 2023
Miraculously, one of the helicopter’s passengers managed to escape the wreckage unaided, walking away from the crash site. The other occupant, trapped among the debris, was rescued by firefighters. The injuries sustained by the helicopter’s occupants included minor head wounds and a thigh bone fracture. The car driver, involved in this unforeseen accident, suffered minor injuries.
Footage from the scene showed the wreckage of the yellow helicopter, with its glass cockpit shattered and the aircraft lying on its side. The car’s windshield was broken, and its structure severely damaged. Emergency response teams were deployed in large numbers to secure the area and manage the aftermath of the accident.
#Ongoing a private Enstron 280 FX [F-HPUX] crashed in Madrid (Spain). The helicopter crashed on the M40 Motorway. First reports state that the 2 aboard and 1 driver were injured. Chopper was returning from the European Rotors Show. pic.twitter.com/iEX3WqrbVN
— Air Safety #OTD by Francisco Cunha (@OnDisasters) December 1, 2023
This incident highlights the unpredictability of urban air travel and raises questions about safety measures in densely populated areas. The quick response of Madrid’s emergency services prevented a potential tragedy, demonstrating the city’s preparedness for such unforeseen events.
