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| Date: | Thursday 24 July 2025 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Eurocopter EC145 |
| Owner/operator: | Gendarmerie Nationale |
| Registration: | F-MJBD |
| MSN: | 9019 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Location: | Montgaillard (Hautes-Pyrénées) -
 France
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | |
| Laloubère airbase |
The helicopter (Choucas 65) collided with a buzzard. Traveling at nearly 200 km/h, the aircraft was unable to avoid the bird. The impact was particularly violent and caused significant damage to the cockpit canopy.
“The pilot managed to dodge the first jet, but a second one came straight at the helicopter,” explained the commander of the Hautes-Pyrénées gendarmerie's air section.
On board were rescue workers from the Pierrefitte-Nestalas PGHM and the Hautes-Pyrénées SAMU doctor. The pilot managed to land the aircraft safely. None of the occupants were injured.
Sources:
https://france3-regions.franceinfo.fr/occitanie/hautes-pyrenees/tarbes/frayeur-dans-les-pyrenees-l-helicoptere-de-la-gendarmerie-percute-par-une-buse-un-pilote-heroique-sauve-ses-passagers-3194187.html
https://www.nrpyrenees.fr/2025/07/28/sa-vitre-a-explose-lhelicoptere-choucas-65-de-la-gendarmerie-cloue-au-sol-apres-avoir-heurte-un-rapace-12848120.php
Location
Media:
France: 24 juillet 2025: Sa bulle a explosé : L’hélicoptère Choucas 65 de la gendarmerie cloué au sol après avoir heurté un rapace. https://t.co/WTVZYCD0LA pic.twitter.com/8LTPPoZpAF
— PLANES OF LEGEND ✈️ (@PlanesOfLegend) July 29, 2025
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 29-Jul-2025 10:23 | Iceman 29 | Added |
| 29-Jul-2025 15:47 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code, ] |
| 30-Jul-2025 06:13 | ASN | Updated [Embed code, ] |
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