2020 Hong Kong Garrison helicopter crash

A military helicopter of Hong Kong Garrison of Chinese People's Liberation Army crashed in Tai Lam Country Park, Hong Kong on 30 March 2020 during a flight training operation, reportedly killing four. The news was only confirmed a day later but no information was released regarding the crew. This is the first recorded aircraft accident involving the Chinese troops in Hong Kong since handover, and raised speculation on the details.

Accident

According to the government, which received notification from the garrison, the helicopter was conducting flight training operation in the area of the Tai Lam Country Park in that afternoon. Villagers in Chuen Lung who witnessed the crash said there was heavy fog when the helicopter is believed to have crashed into an electricity transmission tower by accident. The chopper's noise stopped after explosions were heard, but no smoke or fire could be seen. The lost helicopter is believed to be a Harbin Z-9 (no. 6202).

CLP Group confirmed a voltage dip incident at 4:48 p.m. at a 400kV overhead line power cable connecting Lung Kwu Tan and Sha Tin which lasted for less than 0.1 seconds. The fire service received 42 reports of lift malfunction across the city within 15 minutes after the incident, while Chuen Lung residents also reported a sudden loss of electricity. Photos showed the tower and parts of the cable were damaged.

A dozen of military vehicles and large group of soldiers were spotted by nearby Lui Kung Tin villagers soon after the accident. A number of helicopter flew near the location but turned away likely because of the weather condition. According to the villagers and hikers, at 7 a.m. on the next day more than a hundred military personnel, along with many police officers, entered Tai Lam Country Park via Lui Kung Tin. Some had shovels and other tools in their hands. By 9 a.m. the site was sealed off by the police and the garrison. Witnesses said a senior soldier from Hong Kong Garrison claimed there was a military exercise for the large presence of soldiers. The officers stayed for hours and remained at the crash site after 2 p.m., while CLP maintenance vehicles also travelled uphill afterwards.