On Sunday 28th July, 2024 around 0900 hrs the SA.316B Alouette III with military serial AS 9211 was preparing to take off on a routine patrol when a sort of malfunction happened with the result that hit the blades of the main rotor with the ground.
According to the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) no one was injured and an investigation has been launched.
AS 9211 was one of 3 former Libyan Police Helicopter at that time serial as LC2295 that formed part of a Libyan military mission based here at Luqa. In August 1980, what many would have thought unthinkable happened. An Italian oil drilling vessel under contract to the Maltese Government, was ordered out of the area by a Libyan frigate on the grounds that it was operating in Libyan waters. In retaliation, the Government expelled the Libyan Military Mission from Malta.
After the matter was settled after years kept in a hangar without their logbooks the helicopters were handed to the Maltese government, overhauled in France and returned to the service.
Used in various roles including rescue, a workhorse indeed.
It is the second accident involving an AFM Alouette helicopter this year.
