Spanish Army Helicopters Damaged During FLEETEX 250 in the United States

A microburst damaged two Spanish Army Tiger helicopters and one Cougar helicopter during the multinational FLEETEX 250 exercise at Marine Corps Base New River, USA. No personnel were injured.

FLEETEX 250 was a U.S.-led multinational naval exercise conducted as part of the America250 commemorations marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. The exercise brought together U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and allied forces to enhance interoperability through integrated maritime, amphibious and aviation operations.

MCAS New River, Jacksonville, NC, USA - Three Airbus helicopters—two Tigers and one AS532 Cougar operated by the Spanish Army’s Airmobile Forces (FAMET)—were damaged after an unexpected microburst struck Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina during the multinational FLEETEX 250 exercise.

The three helicopters were transported to the United States aboard the Spanish Navy amphibious assault ship Juan Carlos I, which departed Spain in late May 2026 after participating in Spain's Armed Forces Day celebrations in Vigo. The task group sailed from Spanish waters on 29 May, with the aircraft and personnel arriving on the U.S. East Coast and beginning disembarkation and operational preparations on 13 June.

According to Spain’s Defence Staff (EMAD), the incident occurred on June 14 while the helicopters were parked awaiting training activities with the U.S. Marine Corps’ 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The localized weather phenomenon was not forecast by meteorological services and caused material damage to all three helicopters. No military personnel were injured.

A microburst is an intense, localized column of descending air generated within a thunderstorm. When it impacts the ground it spreads outward with destructive winds capable of overturning aircraft, damaging infrastructure and creating dangerous conditions for aviation.

The Spanish helicopters had been deployed to the United States as part of Spain’s contribution to the commemorations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence and to participate in FLEETEX 250, a major multinational naval and amphibious exercise designed to improve interoperability between allied air and naval forces.

The incident became public after photographs of the damaged helicopters appeared on social media. Although the exercise concluded successfully and Spain’s Defence Staff later announced the completion of its participation, the official statement made no reference to the weather-related damage. EMAD subsequently confirmed that the three aircraft had been affected by the unexpected microburst and would return to Spain for repairs.