What happened
On May 4, 2026, at approximately 16:45 local time, an Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B3e (H125), registration HB-ZEJ, was involved in an accident at the northern border of the Mezzovico-Vira municipality in Ticino. The aircraft, operated by Tarmac Aviation SA, was performing an airwork mission (SPO) under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The flight had departed from Alpe Duragno and was en route to Mezzovico-Vira when the helicopter impacted the ground just prior to its intended landing.
The investigation
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SUST) has opened an inquiry into the event. Preliminary findings indicate that the aircraft sustained heavy damage during the impact. The investigation is currently in its early stages, as this is a preliminary report and the full sequence of events and technical circumstances has not yet been fully established.