Italian helicopter pilot cheats death by regaining control at last second after wind puts it in spin

Astonishing moment Italian helicopter pilot cheats death by regaining control at last second when copter looks set to crash after wind puts it in a spin

  • The pilot was on exercise with the Italian Alpini army in South Tyrol
  • The wind direction caused him to lose control of the military helicopter
  • It hurtled towards the rocks before he gained control at the final second 

This is the incredible moment an Italian helicopter pilot comes inches from death after veering towards a rocky mountain before regaining control at the last second.

The astonishing footage was captured in Merano during a training exercise for the Alpini, Italy’s specialist Alpine army.

The AB-205 chopper, from the 4th Army Aviation Regiment ‘Altair’, was taking part in a joint international exercise in South Tyrol when it came into trouble.

An Italian helicopter pilot came inches from death after veering towards a rocky mountain before regaining control at the last second

An Italian helicopter pilot came inches from death after veering towards a rocky mountain before regaining control at the last second

The AB-205 chopper, from the 4th Army Aviation Regiment 'Altair', was taking part in a joint international exercise

The AB-205 chopper, from the 4th Army Aviation Regiment ‘Altair’, was taking part in a joint international exercise

The wind direction at the high altitude started to cause the helicopter to start rotating to the right when it was attempting to make a landing on Monday.

But when the pilot tried to correct it by turning left, the helicopter continued to spin out of control in the skies as it hurtled towards the rocks.

David Cenciotti, an aviation expert, said:  ‘If this happens as the chopper is still in the air, then you just need to let it go until it stops. 

‘The difference is that in this case the helicopter had already touched down and the risk of crashing is pretty evident.’

The wind direction at the high altitude started to cause the helicopter to start rotating to the right when it was attempting to make a landing on Monday

The wind direction at the high altitude started to cause the helicopter to start rotating to the right when it was attempting to make a landing on Monday

The wind direction at the high altitude started to cause the helicopter to start rotating to the right when it was attempting to make a landing on Monday

At one point, the helicopter was up on its end with the nose pointing towards the rocky edge. 

But at the final second, the pilot regained control and lifted the helicopter out of danger.

The craft was returned to Bolzano airport with some damage to one of its blades.

Cenciotti said a fellow pilot considered the video ‘the proof of a miracle’. 



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