VIDEO: Sightseeing Gyroplane Slams Down on Two Tourists in China
A frightening crash at a popular tourist spot in China was caught on video, and the footage is hard to watch.
A sightseeing gyroplane came down near the Chaka Sky No. 1 Scenic Area in Qinghai Province during what was described as a low-altitude demonstration flight. As it lost control, the aircraft dropped toward people near the lake and struck two tourists on the ground.
Somehow, both people survived.
Video shared online shows the yellow aircraft spinning and sinking fast before hitting the ground. People nearby can be seen reacting as the aircraft comes down in an area where tourists were gathered.
https://x.com/nypost/status/2080333731361866019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
According to the New York Post, the aircraft was a Harbin XLI gyroplane operating near the salt lake when the incident happened Tuesday. The outlet reported that it suddenly spun out of control and crashed near the lake’s bank.
The New York Post reported: “The yellow chopper was performing a low-altitude demonstration flight near a salt lake at the Chaka Sky No. 1 Scenic Area in Qinghai Province on Tuesday when it suddenly spun out of control, the Sun reported.
The Harbin XLI gyroplane plunged to the ground and came to a stop near the bank of the lake – but hit two people on its way down, leaving one with serious head injuries.”
Another angle of the crash appeared to show the aircraft losing stability during the flight. Aviation account FL360aero said the gyroplane was involved in an accident during a sightseeing flight over the Chaka Salt Lake tourist area and suggested the aircraft may have encountered rotor downwash, also known as wake turbulence, from another aircraft.
https://x.com/fl360aero/status/2079966087635185792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The Sun described the moment the aircraft came down in grim detail, reporting: “Huge plumes of smoke begin pouring out of the back of the aircraft as it rapidly loses altitude and drops towards dozens of beachgoers below.
As it approaches the ground, the pilot appears to try and wrestle back control but causes the helicopter to suddenly spin around. Within seconds it smashed into the ground and landed directly on top of two tourists.
The victims watched on in terror as they tried to run away but the heavy aircraft plowed straight into them.
Both were knocked over and sustained serious head injuries. Those inside the Harbin XLI gyroplane escaped injury and immediately helped those on the ground.”
The people inside the aircraft were reportedly not hurt. After the crash, they helped the injured tourists on the ground.
The incident is a blunt reminder that sightseeing flights, even short ones, still carry real risk. Low-altitude flights can leave very little room for error when something goes wrong, especially near crowded tourist areas.
Authorities have not yet released a full public explanation of what caused the crash. For now, the videos have raised serious questions about safety controls around scenic flights and how close aircraft should be allowed to operate near crowds.