2022 Gudauri helicopter crash

Template:Infobox aircraft occurrence On 29 July 2022, a Mil Mi-8 helicopter operated by the Border Police of Georgia crashed while conducting a rescue operation in a mountainous area near the resort town of Gudauri, located in northeastern Georgia. All eight individuals aboard lost their lives.

Accident

During the afternoon of 29 July 2022, a tandem paraglider encountered an accident close to Gudauri, resulting in both occupants descending into a deep rocky ravine. In response, the Border Police of Georgia deployed a Soviet-era Mi-8 helicopter, piloted by seasoned officer Colonel Zaza Loria, to carry out a rescue effort. While maintaining a hover over the gorge, the helicopter experienced loss of control and subsequently crashed. This tragedy claimed the lives of all eight people on board, including four crew members, two emergency medical doctors, and two rescue personnel. Later, one of the paragliders—a foreign visitor—was discovered deceased, while the other occupant sustained injuries and was evacuated to safety by ambulance. Preliminary police findings suggest that failure of the tail rotor may have contributed to the crash.

Reactions

In the aftermath of the crash, Georgia declared the following day a national day of mourning. The President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, honored the deceased crew members, rescuers, and first responders posthumously with the Medal for Civic Dedication. This incident also sparked renewed debate concerning the safety standards within the paragliding industry, which at that time lacked comprehensive regulation. Additionally, questions were raised about whether the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia possessed adequate equipment and transportation resources to effectively manage such emergencies.