Hannes Arch, one of the select few pilots in the world to fly in the highly technical Red Bull Air Race series, died yesterday in a helicopter accident in the Austrian Alps. On Thursday evening Arch, who was an avid mountaineer, was flying a Robinson R66 helicopter from the Elberfelderstraße hut, a mountain hut located in the south central part of Austria, the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) said. Shortly after takeoff, the helicopter hit a cliff and crashed into a steep gully. The conditions at the time of the accident were night VFR. The cause of the crash has not been determined.
Red Bull Air Race Pilot Hannes Arch Dies
Key Takeaways:
- Red Bull Air Race pilot Hannes Arch died yesterday in a helicopter crash in the Austrian Alps after his aircraft hit a cliff shortly after takeoff.
- Arch was a highly successful pilot, winning the Red Bull Air Race World Championships in 2008 and consistently finishing among the top competitors.
- An avid mountaineer, climber, and aerobatic paraglider, Arch had been a Red Bull athlete for 25 years and was celebrated for his warmth and energy.
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