A sightseeing gyroplane spiraled out of control during a low-altitude formation flight Tuesday and crashed into two tourists at a popular salt lake destination in western China, leaving both hospitalized with serious head injuries. The accident at the Chaka Sky No. 1 Scenic Area in Qinghai Province unfolded as bystanders watched three yellow aircraft perform a demonstration flight over Chaka Salt Lake, a reflective natural landmark that draws visitors for its vivid scenery and recreational attractions.
Gyroplane Spins Out During Formation Flight
The aircraft involved was a Harbin XLI, also known as a Celier Xenon gyroplane, a compact rotorcraft designed to carry two or three people. Video circulated by aviation tracking account FL360aero captured the moment the craft began trailing smoke from its rear section while flying alongside two other gyroplanes. The pilot struggled visibly to regain control as the aircraft entered a spin, then veered sharply to the left before slamming into the ground and striking two tourists who were unable to escape in time.
Both victims suffered serious head injuries, with one more gravely hurt than the other, though both remained conscious at the scene. Emergency responders transported them first to Ulan County People’s Hospital, then transferred them to a larger medical facility in Haixi Prefecture for continued treatment. The pilot and passengers aboard the gyroplane escaped without injury and immediately rushed to help the people who had been struck.
Wake Turbulence Cited as Possible Cause
Investigators are examining whether the gyroplane encountered rotor downwash, sometimes called wake turbulence, generated by one of the other aircraft flying in the same formation. That aerodynamic disruption occurs when spiraling air displaced by one rotor interferes with a nearby aircraft, destabilizing smaller rotorcraft with little warning. At low altitude, pilots have minimal margin to recover from such encounters. Early indications from the ongoing investigation point to wake turbulence from a nearby gyroplane as a likely trigger for the loss of control, though officials have not formally assigned blame.
The Ulan County Joint Investigation Group confirmed the incident in a public statement and addressed the condition of the injured tourists, saying their “vital signs are currently stable.” Authorities seized the downed gyroplane as part of the probe and ordered the Chaka Sky No. 1 Scenic Area closed while investigators work to determine the formal cause of the crash. No timeline has been announced for when the area might reopen or when findings will be released.
A Dangerous Year for Low-Altitude Aviation in China
The crash adds to a troubling record of small-aircraft accidents at Chinese tourist sites and underscores the risks associated with low-altitude recreational and sightseeing flights, where encounters between multiple aircraft at close range can rapidly turn deadly. The Chaka Salt Lake region, which sits in Qinghai Province and draws visitors for its mirror-like surface and surrounding mountain scenery, had promoted gyroplane flights as a scenic attraction. The demonstration flight that ended in Tuesday’s crash was part of a three-aircraft formation designed to showcase the experience to potential customers and spectators.
The incident follows a separate fatal accident in China involving a small aircraft used for entertainment. In September of last year, Tang Feiji, a 55-year-old aviation content creator with around 100,000 followers on the Chinese social media platform Douyin, was livestreaming a flight over Jiange County in Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, when his twin-rotor ultralight craft made a steep turn and nosedived into the ground. Tang was pronounced dead at the scene from the impact. Investigators noted he was not wearing a helmet or parachute at the time of the flight. More than 1,000 of his fans had been watching the livestream when the crash occurred, and viewers flooded the chat with desperate pleas for someone to call emergency services.
Investigation Ongoing as Scenic Area Remains Closed
The Ulan County Joint Investigation Group has taken custody of the Harbin XLI gyroplane and is coordinating the formal inquiry into what caused the aircraft to lose control mid-flight. Investigators are working to reconstruct the sequence of events and determine whether the wake turbulence theory withstands technical scrutiny. The scenic spot remains closed to visitors as the probe continues.
For the two tourists struck by the aircraft, the immediate prognosis appears cautiously encouraging given the violence of the impact. Officials confirmed their vital signs remain stable, and both were conscious when emergency personnel reached them shortly after the crash — a meaningful indicator given that the gyroplane landed directly on top of them as they attempted to flee. Both remain under medical care at the facility in Haixi Prefecture.