Paphos: weapon component falls from military helicopter, area cordoned off, inspection underway

On Thursday afternoon in the Paphos area, an incident involving a military helicopter occurred: during a training flight, a weapon mounting assembly detached from the helicopter and fell to the ground. According to preliminary reports, the incident happened at a low altitude. The site of the fall was promptly located and cordoned off by military police and law enforcement authorities.

Emergency services report that there are no casualties and no threat to the public. Bomb disposal experts and ordnance specialists arrived at the scene to inspect the fallen object, eliminate the risk of pyrotechnic elements triggering, and safely evacuate it. The area around the object remains under guard, and traffic has been temporarily rerouted.

The Cyprus National Guard command has initiated an internal investigation. Several possible causes are being considered: a manufacturing defect in the mount, a violation of maintenance protocols, or human error during helicopter preparation for flight. The crew returned safely to base and is undergoing questioning as part of standard procedures.

Residents and visitors of Paphos are advised to avoid the cordoned-off area and immediately report any suspicious items that may be related to weaponry to the police.

The military stated that official conclusions and information on measures taken will be released after the inspection is completed. Flights in the area are temporarily restricted for safety reasons, but operations at civilian airports are unaffected.