A firefighting mission in western France turned dangerous on Sunday when a helicopter crashed into a pond in Rosporden, France during a water collection maneuver. The Morane 29 aircraft had been assigned to combat a wildfire in Beuzec-Cap-Sizun, but the routine task of scooping up water went wrong in dramatic fashion. Video of the incident shows the helicopter’s tail dipping into the lake before spinning out of control and breaking apart on impact.
Miraculously, both the pilot and the firefighter on board escaped without injury. Local officials confirmed that they were helped ashore before rescue teams arrived, as reported by The Telegraph. Witnesses nearby rushed to assist, while emergency crews quickly secured the scene to prevent further accidents. Despite the loss of the aircraft, another helicopter was immediately deployed to continue firefighting operations so that the wildfire response was not interrupted.
The helicopter had already completed more than two dozen water drops earlier that day. It had been part of an intensive effort to contain a 10-hectare blaze, one of several that have plagued the region this summer. With unusually hot and dry conditions across parts of France, the country has seen an increase in wildfire activity, forcing authorities to rely heavily on aerial firefighting assets.
Flying close to the surface of a lake while carrying heavy equipment makes these missions among the riskiest in aviation. Pilots must manage precise speed, angle, and weight distribution when dipping water buckets. Even slight misjudgments can lead to rotor strikes, tail dips, or loss of lift. Aviation safety experts note that crashes of this kind, while rare, are difficult to avoid entirely given the complexity of the maneuvers and the urgency of firefighting missions.
The survival of both crew members has been described as a fortunate outcome, especially considering how violently the helicopter hit the water. Authorities are now investigating the exact cause of the accident, with attention focused on whether mechanical failure, pilot error, or a sudden shift in conditions contributed to the crash.
