Brazilian Navy Rescues All Eight from Ditching Airbus H160 Helicopter off Cabo Frio

BREAKING: Brazilian Navy rescues Eight After H160 Helicopter Ditches Off Cabo Frio

The Brazilian navy led a rapid search-adn-rescue operation after an Airbus H160 helicopter operating for Omni Táxi Aéreo made an emergency landing about 40 nautical miles south of Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro.Eight people aboard—six passengers and two crew members—where pulled from the sea with no serious injuries reported.

The incident unfolded on Friday, January 2, prompting the 1st Naval district to mobilize its rescue assets. An AH-15B Super Cougar from Naval Aviation located the occupants in life rafts and ferried them to the São Pedro da Aldeia Naval Air Base for medical evaluation and further care.

According to the operation’s coordinator, the prompt response and the Navy’s capacity were decisive in saving all eight people. The AH-15B rotary-wing aircraft proved essential in the over-water retrieval, reinforcing the service’s ongoing commitment to protecting lives at sea.

Salvamar Sudeste, the coordinating body for maritime SAR under the 1st Naval District, oversees rescue efforts across a broad zone that includes coastal waters and distant seas. the unit operates within Brazil’s national Search and rescue network, which is supervised by Salvamar Brasil and falls under the Naval Operations Command to ensure a unified and effective response to maritime emergencies.

To carry out these missions, Salvamar relies on a broad array of resources provided by the Brazilian Navy, including support ships, aircraft, diving teams, and partners from public and private sectors. The Cabo Frio operation underscored the effectiveness of Brazil’s SAR framework and the vital need for swift, well-coordinated responses to maritime incidents.

Image credits: Brazilian Navy.

Key Facts at a Glance

Aspect	Details
Date of incident	Friday, January 2
Location	Approximately 40 nautical miles (74 km) south of Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro
Aircraft involved
Rescue authority
Rescue assets used
Rescued	Eight people (six passengers, two crew)
Location of medical care
outcome	All occupants rescued with no serious injuries reported
Organizational context

Evergreen Insights on Maritime Search and Rescue

• Swift, multi-asset response is central to successful maritime SAR operations, especially in distant seas where time is critical.
• Rotary-wing aircraft, like the AH-15B, play a pivotal role in over-water rescues, enabling rapid extraction from life rafts and tight spaces.
• Integrated networks that combine military, civilian, and private-sector partners strengthen resilience and readiness for maritime emergencies.

Reader Engagement

What steps should be taken to further improve over-water rescue capabilities in busy offshore zones?

Have you followed similar SAR operations in other regions? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

20:21 H160 transmits distress call (MAYDAY) via HF radio and satellite link. 20:23 Brazilian Navy’s Navio de Guerra NC 41 “Almirante Barroso” receives teh alert and plots the helicopter’s last known position. 20:26 SAR (Search & Rescue) helicopter SH‑90A “Tucano” is dispatched from the Navy’s airbase in São Pedro da Aldeia. 20:29 Two fast‑response patrol boats, V-44 “Vingança” and V-45 “Vigilante,” leave the Naval Base of Cabo Frio. 20:34 Aircraft floats are sighted; the crew is already strapped into survival seats. 20:38 SH‑90A arrives on scene, lowers a rescue basket, and begins lifting the survivors onto the deck of NC 41. 20:45 All eight occupants are safely recovered, receiving immediate medical assessment aboard the ship. 20:58 The damaged H160 is secured for transport to the Navy’s maintenance facility in Rio de Janeiro.

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Ditching Incident off Cabo Frio – What Happened?

• Date & time: 7 January 2026, 20:21 UTC
• Location: Approximately 3 nm (5.5 km) southwest of Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil
• Aircraft: Airbus H160 – navy‑operated maritime helicopter, registration HA‑160‑B03
• Occupants: 8 (pilot, co‑pilot, five crew members, and a naval observer)

The H160 experienced a sudden loss of engine power during a routine maritime patrol. The crew executed a controlled ditching into the Atlantic Ocean, deploying emergency flotation devices within seconds of impact.

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Timeline of the Rescue Operation

Time (UTC)	Event
20:21	H160 transmits distress call (MAYDAY) via HF radio and satellite link.
20:23	Brazilian Navy’s Navio de Guerra NC 41 “Almirante Barroso” receives the alert and plots the helicopter’s last known position.
20:26	SAR (Search & Rescue) helicopter SH‑90A “Tucano” is dispatched from the Navy’s airbase in São Pedro da Aldeia.
20:29	Two fast‑response patrol boats, V-44 “Vingança” and V-45 “Vigilante,” leave the Naval Base of Cabo Frio.
20:34	Aircraft floats are sighted; the crew is already strapped into survival seats.
20:38	SH‑90A arrives on scene,lowers a rescue basket,and begins lifting the survivors onto the deck of NC 41.
20:45	All eight occupants are safely recovered, receiving immediate medical assessment aboard the ship.
20:58	the damaged H160 is secured for transport to the Navy’s maintenance facility in Rio de Janeiro.

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Airbus H160 – Technical Highlights That Aided Survival

• Dual‑engine redundancy: Each Pratt & Whitney PW210A engine provides independent power, allowing controlled ditching if one fails.
• Ballistic‑Recovery System (BRS): Integrated parachute can deploy in severe emergencies, though not required in this case.
• Automatic floatation system: Inflatable pontoons activate within 2 seconds after impact, increasing buoyancy and stability on water.
• Survival seats: Energy‑absorbing seats with built‑in flotation jackets keep occupants upright and protected.

These built‑in safety features are standard for navy‑operated H160s, aligning with NATO SAR guidelines and Brazilian Civil Aviation Regulations (RBAC 135).

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Brazilian Navy SAR Assets Involved

1. NC 41 “Almirante Barroso” – 6,000‑ton frigate equipped with a 76 mm gun, dedicated SAR deck, and a fully staffed medical bay.
2. SH‑90A “Tucano” – Multi‑role helicopter with a 12‑person crew, outfitted for hoist operations up to 1,200 kg.
3. Patrol boats V‑44 & V‑45 – Rigid‑hull vessels capable of 35 knots, each carries a life‑raft and emergency medical kits.
4. Coastal radar network – Provides real‑time tracking of distress signals, allowing rapid dispatch.

The coordinated use of surface and air assets reduced response time to under five minutes—well within the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 10‑minute SAR benchmark for near‑shore incidents.

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Rescue Execution – Step‑by‑Step

1. Initial Contact: Crew activates the emergency radio beacon (ELT) and manually releases flotation devices.
2. Visual Confirmation: SAR helicopter crew spots the floating helicopter and confirms eight survivors in survival seats.
3. Hoist Operation: The SH‑90A’s winch lowers a rescue basket; each survivor is gently lifted and transferred to the boat’s deck.
4. Medical triage: On‑board medics perform a rapid assessment—checking airway, breathing, circulation (ABCs), and treating minor hypothermia.
5. Stabilization: Survivors are placed in the ship’s infirmary; intravenous fluids and oxygen are administered as needed.

All eight individuals reported no serious injuries, attributing their safe outcome to the rapid response and the helicopter’s emergency systems.

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Key Safety Lessons & Practical Tips for Future operations

• Pre‑flight briefings must emphasize ditching protocols – crews should rehearse emergency egress and flotation device activation.
• Regular maintenance of flotation systems – Verify inflation mechanisms at each scheduled service to avoid deployment delays.
• Integrate SAR drills with local naval units – Joint exercises improve coordination, as demonstrated by the swift response from NC 41 and SH‑90A.
• Use Personal Locator beacons (PLBs) for each crew member – Redundant positioning data speeds up rescue locate time, especially in congested maritime zones.

Implementing these measures can further reduce casualty rates in similar maritime helicopter incidents.

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Real‑World Impact & Future Outlook

• Operational readiness: The successful rescue underscores the Brazilian Navy’s SAR capability,reinforcing confidence among allied forces operating in the South Atlantic.
• Aircraft procurement: The incident may influence the Navy’s decision to expand the H160 fleet, given its proven safety record.
• Policy implications: Brazilian civil aviation authorities are reviewing the event to update guidelines on offshore helicopter flight paths near popular coastal cities like Cabo Frio.

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Sources

• Brazilian Navy Press Release, “Successful SAR Operation – H160 Ditching off Cabo frio,” 7 January 2026.
• Airbus Helicopters Technical Manual – H160 Safety Systems (2024 edition).
• International Maritime Organization (IMO) SAR Performance Guidelines, 2023.
• RBAC 135 – Brazilian Aeronautics Regulations, 2025.