Bell 214B crash near British Columbia, Canada

A Bell 214B firefighting helicopter suffered a mechanical failure during wildfire operations in British Columbia. The bucket hook jammed, preventing the pilot from releasing the water bucket. Despite the added complication of the trailing bucket creating drag, the pilot executed a textbook autorotation landing into an open field. The pilot was uninjured and the helicopter landed upright. Video of the landing was widely shared on social media and aviation forums, with experienced pilots praising the skill of the emergency landing. The Bell 214B's high rotor inertia allowed the pilot more time to execute the manoeuvre than a lighter helicopter would have.