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| Date: | Friday 10 January 2025 |
| Time: | 15:40 |
| Type: |  Sikorsky S-61N |
| Owner/operator: | Construction Helicopters, opf AFRICOM |
| Registration: | N703HG |
| MSN: | 61703 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1972 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Sèdjè-Dénou -
 Benin
|
| Phase: | Unknown |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
A Sikorsky S-61N helicopter took off from Parakou, Benin, at 07:58. At 09:20, a technical problem resulted in a forced landing near the village of Gnanwizoumè in Bonou. Another Sikorsky S-61N (N761HG) arrived with mechanics and they carried out the necessary repairs. The helicopter was able to resume its flight to Cotonou at 15:28. However, near Zè in Sèdjè Dénou, other technical problems ('engine issues' according to the FAA ASIAS entry) led to a crash at 15:40. All crew members, four US citizens, escaped unhurt.
The helicopter was chartered by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and participated in supporting the Beninese Armed Forces (FAB) in medical evacuation.
Sources:
https://x.com/fabsenbln/status/1877772999052386464
https://x.com/WadrNews/status/1877797137536221245
https://x.com/fabsenbln/status/1877996226815119411
https://levenementprecis.com/?p=91285
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n703hg#38aaaeb0
FAA ASIAS
Media:
#Benin?? - A Sikorsky S-61N helicopter with currently unknown US registration crash landed near Sèdjè-Dénou today. Another S-61N (reg. N761HG) of US?? contractor "Construction Helicopters" arrived later at the scene (image 4). I assume the crashed heli is from the same company. https://t.co/GFf37pPL5C pic.twitter.com/w8sHNhbVaH
— Fabian (@fabsenbln) January 10, 2025
?BENIN ??| A helicopter from #Africom, the #US #Africa Command, crashed Friday evening in the town of Sedje-Denou (Southern of #Benin). No loss of human life. According to a press release from the embassy of #USA in Cotonou, the device suffered a partial mechanical failure. pic.twitter.com/gBlqGAX1a5
— Nanana365 (@nanana365media) January 11, 2025
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 11-Jan-2025 12:19 | SignorPignolini | Added |
| 11-Jan-2025 12:34 | gerard57 | Updated [Total fatalities, Total occupants, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 11-Jan-2025 12:35 | gerard57 | Updated [Narrative, ] |
| 11-Jan-2025 12:53 | SignorPignolini | Updated [Source, Narrative, ] |
| 11-Jan-2025 13:55 | SignorPignolini | Updated [Registration, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Source, ] |
| 11-Jan-2025 13:58 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code, ] |
| 11-Jan-2025 14:00 | ASN | Updated [Time, Registration, Cn, Operator, Source, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 11-Jan-2025 14:56 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code, ] |
| 12-Jan-2025 11:44 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code, ] |
| 13-Jan-2025 18:27 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
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