The Airbus H125 in the Andes: Saving lives at over 6,000 metres

On both sides of the Andes, in the peaks of Chile and Argentina, Rotortec Helicopters and Helicopters AR have shown how the combination of technology and human expertise can save lives in extreme conditions.

In the Andes mountain range, mistakes can be costly, both for aircraft and for the hundreds of tourists who visit the area’s parks every year. At altitudes where the human body slows down and the air is so thin that it is barely enough to prevent unconsciousness, the difference between whether someone meets a tragic end or gets to see their loved ones again depends on two factors: the skill of the pilots and the technical capabilities of an aircraft able to perform at its best at high altitude. Recently, two rescue operations, one in Chile involving Rotortec Helicopters, and the other in Argentina involving Helicopters AR, have again demonstrated that, at the top of the world, the H125 is a real lifesaver.

Miracle at Camp Cólera

In the afternoon of Thursday, 22 January 2026, an emergency situation arose on Mount Aconcagua. A Brazilian mountain climber got into difficulty at Camp Cólera, at an altitude of almost 6,000 metres, and was unable to move without assistance. At that elevation, where the air density is such that an enormous force is required, the helicopter had to perform a perfect hover to save a life. Diego Góngora, one of the partners at Helicopters AR, recalls the team’s determination in the face of this challenge: “When the mountaineer’s insurance provider asked if we were able to evacuate at that altitude, our response was a resounding ‘yes’. Not because we are overconfident, but because we have years of training and are supported by a helicopter that we trust completely.” As the terrain did not allow the helicopter to land, the team used a short sling to hoist the climber in a high-precision manoeuvre. The rescuer and the casualty were transported using the sling, maintaining constant radio communication until they reached the Nido de Cóndores camp. There, at an altitude of 5,556 metres, the H125 was finally able to land, allowing the medical team to complete the chain of survival.

Hope at Cerro Leonera

A few weeks before, in Farellones, Chile, the Rotortec Helicopters crew faced a challenge of its own near the summit of Cerro Leonera. 25-year-old Daniela Sáez had been missing for 48 hours, having become separated from her trekking group. She had spent two nights in freezing temperatures and entirely alone in the vastness of the Andean mountains. Visibility was poor due to gusts of wind and variable cloud cover. Francisco Fluxá, pilot and managing director of Rotortec, describes the moment they discovered her as being a mixture of relief and adrenaline. The image of Sáez, exhausted but conscious, gave meaning to a massive human effort that capitalised on each window of good weather to rescue her. After she had been stabilised, a diagnosis of hypothermia and dehydration confirmed that the speed of the aircraft was key to her survival.

Maximum performance in extreme conditions

Why is the H125 central to these stories? At altitudes where other helicopters reach their limits, the H125 maintains lift and responds with agility. With its power margin, it is the perfect aircraft to offer maximum performance under conditions of extreme heat and altitude, enabling approaches on hillsides where landing is impossible. “The fundamental factor here is the power,” explains Diego Góngora. “For example, in the case of a rescue, like the one we performed a few weeks ago at 6,505 metres, with temperatures of -10°C, the density altitude calculation result was extreme. For a pilot, these are the conditions that make this work difficult but exciting.” However, as well as the power of the helicopter, it is the human factor that is crucial. Success is the result of rescuers, pilots and technology all working together effectively. Today, thanks to the perseverance of teams like those at Rotortec Helicopters and Helicopters AR, two people have returned home, and the story of H125 rescues in the Andes has two new chapters.

HelicoptersAR performing SAR operation with the Airbus H125