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Date of Incident
21/03/2026
Country
England
Area
Route
Activity
Trad rock climbing
When
Ascending
Injury
No injury
Incident
An Apache helicopter flew extremely low over me as I was rock climbing on Peel Crag. I was at the top of my climb fixing a belay and fortunately didn't fall off but was subjected to a sudden shock and down-draught. I sent a complaint to the MOD but got a standard reply that low flying "should normally be not lower than ... 100 feet AGL for rotary wing aircraft. Due to their unique role military helicopters may operate down to ground level in some circumstances." They didn't address my specific concern about climbers.
Lessons
Military helicopters should not be flying near crags close to climbers (unless involved in rescue). Getting that message through to helicopter pilots might be a challenge.
If you hear helicopters nearby while climbing, get into a safe position in balance, get some gear in quickly if possible, and be prepared for a sudden down-draught.
Causes
Military helicopter
Anonymous?
No
Reported By
Participant
Wearing Helmets?
Yes
Rescue Services Involved?
Author
Alison Page
3 April 2026 at 13:34:15
For more advice and guidance on good practices visit BMC skills
All reports are self-submitted and have not been edited by the BMC in any way, so please keep an open mind regarding the lessons and causes of each incident or near-miss.
If you have a concern regarding this report please contact us at incidentreports@thebmc.co.uk