A firefighting operation in western France turned into a near-tragedy on Sunday evening when a Morane 29 helicopter crashed into Rosporden Lake while attempting to collect water to douse flames in the area.
Both crew members survived without injuries.
Authorities in Finistère said the pilot and an onboard firefighter managed to escape the wreckage and swim to safety after the aircraft went down.
The helicopter was on a routine mission and had already carried out 27 water drops earlier in the day to stop fires from reaching homes near Rosporden.
Footage from the incident shows the helicopter dipping its tail into the water while trying to fill a bucket. Moments later, it lost balance, spun uncontrollably, and plunged into the lake, breaking apart on impact.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic. David, who was present at the site, told The Sun, “It dipped way too low and was descending fast. I thought it was going to explode, break into pieces. Once it flipped, it went in all directions.”
Officials commended the crew for their composure, noting the high risks faced by firefighting teams during such emergencies. An inquiry has been launched to determine what led to the accident, though firefighting operations continued with another aircraft soon after.
The crash comes as France battles widespread wildfires, which have already destroyed areas larger than Paris. The fires have killed one person and left at least 13 injured, including 11 firefighters. Thousands of personnel and dozens of aircraft remain deployed in the southern regions to bring the situation under control.
(With inputs from TOI)
Both crew members survived without injuries.
Authorities in Finistère said the pilot and an onboard firefighter managed to escape the wreckage and swim to safety after the aircraft went down.
The helicopter was on a routine mission and had already carried out 27 water drops earlier in the day to stop fires from reaching homes near Rosporden.
Footage from the incident shows the helicopter dipping its tail into the water while trying to fill a bucket. Moments later, it lost balance, spun uncontrollably, and plunged into the lake, breaking apart on impact.
NEW: Helicopter crashes into a lake while trying to scoop up water to fight a forest fire in France.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 25, 2025
The pilot was seen dropping too quickly to fill the bucket, with the chopper's tail submerging into the water.
According to local authorities, the two men in the helicopter… pic.twitter.com/Y3piXiV4Ha
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic. David, who was present at the site, told The Sun, “It dipped way too low and was descending fast. I thought it was going to explode, break into pieces. Once it flipped, it went in all directions.”
Officials commended the crew for their composure, noting the high risks faced by firefighting teams during such emergencies. An inquiry has been launched to determine what led to the accident, though firefighting operations continued with another aircraft soon after.
The crash comes as France battles widespread wildfires, which have already destroyed areas larger than Paris. The fires have killed one person and left at least 13 injured, including 11 firefighters. Thousands of personnel and dozens of aircraft remain deployed in the southern regions to bring the situation under control.
(With inputs from TOI)
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