File photoA helicopter swinging a large hook into the side of ute, leaving a worker injured, has been blamed on a lack of "basic communication" between two prominent Dunedin companies. On February 27 last year, a Helicopters Otago pilot smashed the hook end of a 30m strop into the side of a Delta Utility Services vehicle, which had two workers inside it at the time. A longline hook was attached to the helicopter, and the pilot took off. However, when the helicopter flew forward, the swing generated caused the hook to smash into the side of the vehicle. The investigation findings released to the ODT do not reveal who was piloting the helicopter.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 04, 2026 18:47 UTC