Unsecured Penguin Causes Helicopter Crash in South Africa

A helicopter crash in South Africa's Bird Island was attributed to an unsecured penguin, placed in a cardboard box that slipped off a passenger's lap and struck the pilot's controls. The incident occurred on January 19 while the helicopter was conducting an aerial survey. The South African Civil Aviation Authority's report highlighted the lack of secure containment for the penguin as a critical safety oversight. Despite the crash, neither the passengers nor the penguin were injured. The incident has prompted social media jokes linking it to unrelated U.S. tariffs on penguin-inhabited islands. Authorities emphasized the importance of adhering to established aviation safety protocols to prevent similar accidents.