Italian helicopter pilot cheats death by regaining control at last second after wind puts it in spin

This is the incredible moment when an Italian helicopter pilot comes within inches of death after deflecting towards a rocky mountain before regaining control at the last minute.

The astonishing footage was captured in Merano during a training exercise for the Alpini, Italy’s specialist Alpine army.

The AB-205 helicopter, of the 4th Army Aviation Regiment ‘Altair’, was taking part in a joint international exercise in South Tyrol when it ran into trouble.

An Italian helicopter pilot was inches from death after turning into a rocky mountain before regaining control at the last minute

The AB-205 helicopter, of the 4th Army Aviation Regiment ‘Altair’, took part in a joint international exercise

The high-altitude wind direction caused the helicopter to turn to the right as it attempted to land on Monday.

But when the pilot tried to correct it by turning to the left, the helicopter kept spinning uncontrollably in the air as it hurtled toward the rocks.

David Cenciotti, an aviation expert, said: ‘If this happens while the helicopter is still in the air, just let it go until it stops.

“The difference is that in this case the helicopter had already landed and the probability of crashing is quite clear.”

The high-altitude wind direction caused the helicopter to turn to the right as it attempted to land on Monday

At one point, the helicopter was upside down with its nose pointing toward the rocky ridge.

But in the last second, the pilot regained control and lifted the helicopter out of danger.

The craft was returned to Bolzano airport with some damage to one of the blades.

Cenciotti said a fellow pilot thought the video was “proof of a miracle.”