SANTO DOMINGO – A military training flight ended in an unexpected incident Wednesday afternoon, when an AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter belonging to the Dominican Republic Air Force crashed in the vicinity of San Isidro Air Base, the nation’s Ministry of Defense has confirmed. In what officials are calling a testament to the rigorous preparation of the country’s military air crews, every member of the helicopter’s team managed to evacuate the aircraft without harm. No fatalities have been reported, and no personnel involved in the flight suffered serious injuries. Defense department spokespeople emphasized that the quick, calm response of the crew during the emergency, rooted in their systematic training, was directly responsible for the positive outcome despite the crash. Early on-site assessments have confirmed that the aircraft sustained visible structural damage, though survey teams have not yet completed a full inspection to map out the full scope of harm done to the helicopter. Following standard procedural frameworks for military aviation incidents, the Dominican government has launched a formal comprehensive investigation to pinpoint the exact root cause of the accident. The investigation team will review flight data, conduct mechanical inspections of the wreckage, and interview crew members to reach a evidence-based conclusion. Officials also confirmed that the helicopter was fully covered by an active, valid insurance policy at the time of the incident. In a statement following the crash, the Ministry of Defense reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to upholding strict operational safety standards, maintaining full transparency with the public throughout the investigation process, and ensuring full compliance with all established national and international military aviation regulations.
Military helicopter suffers accident during training flight near San Isidro Air Base
