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RAF receives first two Airbus H145 helicopters for Akrotiri base operations
Two Airbus H145 utility helicopters have joined RAF Akrotiri's fleet to support emergency response, firefighting, medevac, troop transport, and ISR missions in the eastern Mediterranean.
The gist
RAF’s 84 Squadron welcomes two H145 helicopters in Cyprus for multi-role duties including firefighting and medical evacuation.
Continuing coverage
All Defense →The Royal Air Force has taken delivery of the first two Airbus Helicopters H145 utility rotorcraft destined for deployment at its Akrotiri base in Cyprus. These new aircraft will be assigned to the RAF’s 84 Squadron to bolster operations in the eastern Mediterranean region. The helicopters’ arrival marks the initial stage of a broader procurement under a Ministry of Defence program aimed at modernizing the RAF's helicopter capabilities overseas.
Designated as Jupiter HC2 by the RAF, the H145s are versatile twin-engine helicopters intended to perform a range of missions. Their roles will encompass emergency response activities, aerial firefighting operations, troop transport, medical evacuation, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) tasks. This flexibility is expected to enhance the RAF’s capability to respond quickly and effectively to diverse operational requirements within and beyond Cyprus.
These initial aircraft complement a total order of six H145 helicopters valued at £148 million (approximately $196 million), contracted by the UK Ministry of Defence. Prior to their arrival in Cyprus, the first two examples were delivered in April and allocated to the Army Air Corps’ 667 Squadron, stationed in Brunei. This demonstrates the RAF and Army Air Corps’ coordinated approach to deploying these aircraft to key locations.
Preparations for the new helicopters have involved outfitting and configuring the H145s at Airbus Helicopters’ facility near Oxford Airport in the UK before shipment. Such pre-deployment processing ensures the rotorcraft meet the specific operational needs demanded by their respective squadrons and environmental conditions at their deployment bases.
The Ministry of Defence National Armaments Directorate has confirmed that the delivery program remains on schedule. The remaining four H145s intended for both Brunei and Cyprus are expected to be transferred and operational by the end of July. This timeline illustrates the efficient progression of the modernization program, enhancing RAF rotary-wing assets internationally.
RAF Akrotiri, located on Cyprus’s southern coast, serves as a critical forward operating base for British military activity in the eastern Mediterranean. The introduction of the H145 helicopters strengthens the RAF’s ability to conduct rapid response missions in this strategically significant region. These new assets will augment existing rotary-wing capabilities to better support British military and humanitarian operations.
The H145 platform is well regarded for its advanced avionics, high-stability flight characteristics, and capacity to operate in challenging environments. Its deployment in Cyprus aligns with broader UK defense initiatives that prioritize agility, responsiveness, and multi-role functionality in overseas military assets. The RAF’s adoption of the H145 is indicative of ongoing efforts to modernize and enhance the efficiency of its helicopter fleet.
This delivery also reflects Airbus Helicopters’ role as a key partner for UK defense aviation modernization. The Oxford-based preparation and onward deployment signify close industrial and operational cooperation. The H145’s capabilities in areas like ISR and medical evacuation fulfill critical operational needs, improving mission success rates and providing vital support to personnel deployed in complex theaters of operation.
With the H145s now in Cyprus, RAF 84 Squadron is positioned to expand its operational reach and responsiveness in the Mediterranean. The continuing deliveries through July will complete the current phase of the program, enabling the RAF to fully transition to these newer, more capable helicopters for a wide array of mission sets in overseas locations.
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Cessna 150 collides with Pennsylvania State Police helicopter near Carlisle Airport, killing pilot
A Cessna 150 pilot was killed when his airplane collided with a hovering Pennsylvania State Police helicopter while the Cessna was attempting to land at Carlisle Airport in Pennsylvania. Video posted on X shows the Cessna approaching the runway at low altitude as the Bell 407 hovers several feet above a grassy area beside it. The airplane veers sharply to the right and strikes the helicopter from behind, sending both aircraft to the ground in a cloud of debris. The crash occurred at about 18:52 local time on August 19, 2026, according to the Pennsylvania State Police and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Cumberland County Coroner's Office identified the Cessna pilot as 57-year-old Paul Sokoloski of Hershey. He was the only person aboard the airplane. Sokoloski was an emergency medicine physician affiliated with Penn State Health. He worked in emergency departments at Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center, Holy Spirit Medical Center and Lancaster Medical Center, according to his profile on the health system's website. The helicopter was conducting a routine training exercise when the collision occurred. Its two pilots, Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, are members of the Pennsylvania State Police aviation unit. The impact tore away the helicopter's rotor blades and tail boom. The aircraft rolled onto its side and partially onto its roof, trapping both troopers inside. Corman pushed out a window and helped Mills escape. Both were taken to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where hospital officials said they were in stable condition with minor injuries. "When I say it was a very violent crash, that plane was cut into a lot of pieces," Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner George Bivens said during a news conference. Bivens said the Cessna approached from behind the helicopter while lined up with Runway 28 before veering right at the last moment. "The pilots would not have been able to even see that airplane approaching them," he said. Carlisle Airport is an uncontrolled field that does not have an air traffic control tower. Rotor wash from the hovering helicopter is one possible factor investigators may consider. The video shows the Cessna's right wing dropping shortly before impact, but it does not establish why the airplane veered sharply. FAA guidance warns that helicopters hovering close to the ground can produce high-velocity outwash vortices extending approximately three rotor diameters. The agency advises pilots of small airplanes to remain outside that area. The same guidance notes that helicopter wake turbulence can drift toward a nearby runway. Other factors, including visibility, aircraft spacing, radio communications and a possible last-second avoidance maneuver, have not been ruled in or out. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with assistance from the FAA and Pennsylvania State Police. No cause has been determined.
Cessna 150 Collides with Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 Helicopter at Carlisle Airport
The pilot of a Cessna 150 was killed and two State Police troopers were hurt when the small plane collided with a police Bell 407 helicopter at Carlisle Airport, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday evening. Early reports suggest that the helicopter had been conducting routine training and was hovering a few feet above a grass area when the Cessna struck it from behind.
Seven perish in Eurocopter EC130 crash on Kenya safari flight near Mount Ololokwe
Five Americans were among seven people killed when a tourist helicopter crashed in a remote area of northern Kenya on August 19, 2026. The Eurocopter EC130 B4, registered 5Y-GYM, was carrying six passengers and one pilot when it crashed near Kirish, close to Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the accident occurred at approximately 09:13 local time while the helicopter was flying from Loisaba Conservancy to the Ewaso Nyiro area. The aircraft was operated by Lady Lori Helicopters and was carrying guests of luxury safari company &Beyond. "We can confirm that on the morning of August 19, an aircraft registered as 5Y-GYM, carrying &Beyond guests, crashed near Kirish, close to Mt. Ololokwe in Samburu County, Kenya," the company said in a statement. The US State Department confirmed that five US citizens were among those killed. "We can confirm the deaths of five US citizens in a helicopter crash in Samburu County, Kenya," a State Department spokesperson said. "The US Embassy is in touch with local authorities and is providing consular assistance." Lady Lori Helicopters identified the aircraft as 5Y-GYM and said it was operating the charter flight from Suyian Conservancy to Ololokwe. "Lady Lori Helicopters is deeply saddened to confirm that one of our aircraft, registered 5Y-GYM, was involved in an accident," the company said. "Our deepest sympathies are with the guests, crew, their families and loved ones, and all those affected by this tragic accident." The six passengers included Michele Sensi-Contugi, director of Ecuador's National Intelligence Center; his wife, Stephany Hollihan Vasconez, a dual US-Ecuadorian citizen; and José Alberto Suárez, a senior Telemundo executive based in Florida. The Kenya Red Cross joined a multiagency response at the crash site. The remote and mountainous terrain complicated efforts to reach the wreckage. Kenya's Air Accident Investigation Department is leading the crash investigation. The EC130 B4 is a seven-seat, single-engine helicopter developed by Eurocopter, now part of Airbus Helicopters. The type is widely used for sightseeing and charter flights because of its large cabin, low external noise and unobstructed views. Mount Ololokwe, also known as Ol Donyo Sabache, rises above the Samburu region and is a popular destination for hiking and wildlife tourism. Loisaba Conservancy and the Ewaso Nyiro River are also part of Kenya's northern safari circuit.
NTSB Publishes New Video and Reports on Deadly Philadelphia Learjet 55 Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a new batch of investigative material from its probe of the January 2025 Learjet 55 crash in Philadelphia, including surveillance videos capturing the aircraft before and during the accident. The material was added to the NTSB's public docket Tuesday, Aug. 18. The docket now contains 59 items, including operational, airworthiness and maintenance reports, along with videos, audio recordings and other investigative data. Among the newly released videos are doorbell-camera and drive-thru footage showing the final seconds of the flight. Additional surveillance footage shows the aircraft at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport and Northeast Philadelphia Airport, including video of the crew conducting its preflight and the airplane taxiing for departure. The Learjet 55, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, departed Northeast Philadelphia Airport shortly after 6 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2025, carrying a pediatric patient, her mother and four crewmembers on a flight to Tijuana, Mexico. The aircraft was airborne for about 22 seconds before crashing near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Mall. All six people aboard were killed, as were two people on the ground. At least 24 others were injured. The docket also includes an operational factors factual report, accident flight risk assessment, pilot training and flight-time records, aircraft weight-and-balance information, airworthiness and maintenance reports, and a checklist page recovered from the wreckage. Investigators also released reports covering the cockpit voice recorder , enhanced ground proximity warning system, aircraft performance and FAA ADS-B data. The NTSB has not yet determined what caused the crash. The newly released documents are factual investigative material and do not represent the agency's final findings or probable cause. The investigation remains ongoing, with the NTSB expected to address the cause and any contributing factors in its final report.
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