“Dangerous takeoff”: Helicopter narrowly misses people and trees in Almaty mountains

Tengrinews.kz – A video showing a helicopter taking off dangerously close to a group of people in the mountains near Almaty has gone viral on social media.

The footage captures the aircraft lifting off from a mountain helipad and flying alarmingly near bystanders, also appearing to clip some trees during the ascent.

The helicopter, operated by Kazaviaspas, was conducting a scheduled flight from an official helipad near the Medeu sports complex, the company said in a statement.

“The flight was carried out by an experienced pilot with confirmed qualifications and extensive flight hours. A flight mechanic had warned nearby citizens to maintain a safe distance,” the statement reads.

Preliminary findings suggest that a sudden change in wind direction and speed may have affected the helicopter’s stability during takeoff.

A rapid response team inspected the aircraft following the incident and reported no technical issues. An internal investigation is currently underway to determine the exact cause.