Helicopter Crash in German Military: One Crew Member Remains Unaccounted for After Accident - Helicopter belonging to the German military experiences crash; search ongoing for the missing third crew member.
A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday when a German Armed Forces helicopter, an EC-135, crashed into the Mulde River near Grimma, Saxony during a low-level flight training exercise as part of the Tactical Combat Training Program [1][3][4].
The crash resulted in the unfortunate death of two crew members, while another remains missing. The identity of the deceased crew members and the still missing crew member have not been released by the Air Force [2].
Emergency responders, including more than 100 personnel and police divers, have been actively searching for the missing crew member. A boom has been deployed in the river due to kerosene leaking from the helicopter [4].
The crash site has been declared a closed military zone to facilitate the search and investigation. The German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, visited the crash site and stated that everything possible will be done to investigate the incident. The Bundeswehr has set up a military restricted area around the crash site [1][4][5].
The helicopter was rented for training purposes. Wreckage from the helicopter is being transported for examination. It is common to fly at very low altitudes during these exercises, and flying under bridges is also part of the training exercises [6].
River courses are often used for these training exercises, and in this case, the Mulde River was the location of the crash. Paddlers in the river secured a part of the helicopter and later alerted the police [7].
Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, according to a spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Defense [8]. The public is asked to stay clear of the area to allow emergency responders to continue their work.
[1] https://www.bundeswehr.de/aktuelles/aktuelles-presse/pressemitteilungen/2025-07-30-kabinett-und-verteidigungsministerium-stellen-sich-nach-notfall-einsatz-im-fall-von-einem-helikopter-unfall-in-sachsen-bereit
[2] https://www.bundeswehr.de/aktuelles/aktuelles-presse/pressemitteilungen/2025-07-31-verteidigungsministerium-stellen-sich-nach-notfall-einsatz-im-fall-von-einem-helikopter-unfall-in-sachsen-bereit
[3] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/verteidigungsminister-pistorius-besucht-die-stelle-des-helikopter-unglucks-in-sachsen/27610136.html
[4] https://www.bundeswehr.de/aktuelles/aktuelles-presse/pressemitteilungen/2025-07-31-verteidigungsministerium-stellen-sich-nach-notfall-einsatz-im-fall-von-einem-helikopter-unfall-in-sachsen-bereit
[5] https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/helikopter-unglueck-in-sachsen-verteidigungsminister-pistorius-besucht-die-stelle-1.5950712
[6] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/verteidigungsminister-pistorius-besucht-die-stelle-des-helikopter-unglucks-in-sachsen/27610136.html
[7] https://www.bundeswehr.de/aktuelles/aktuelles-presse/pressemitteilungen/2025-07-30-kabinett-und-verteidigungsministerium-stellen-sich-nach-notfall-einsatz-im-fall-von-einem-helikopter-unfall-in-sachsen-bereit
[8] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/verteidigungsminister-pistorius-besucht-die-stelle-des-helikopter-unglucks-in-sachsen/27610136.html
- The tragic helicopter crash of a German Federal Army helicopter in Saxony, Germany, on Tuesday, has been attributed to a training exercise as part of the Tactical Combat Training Program, and the German Federal Ministry of Defence is currently investigating the cause of the accident.
- The German Federal Army helicopter crash in Saxony, which occurred during a low-level flight training exercise, resulted in the death of two crew members, while further investigations are ongoing to determine the identity and whereabouts of a third missing crew member.
- In the aftermath of the German Federal Army helicopter crash in Saxony, the German Federal Ministry of Defence and local police have set up a restricted zone around the crash site, and emergency responders are actively searching for the missing crew member while dealing with leaking kerosene from the helicopter wreckage.
