Pilot scolds tourist who grabs controls midair over Grand Canyon

By Barney Riley via SWNS

This is the moment an angry helicopter pilot reprimanded a tourist who grabbed a lever in the cockpit - that would have sent the chopper plunging into the Grand Canyon.

Video shows the pilot grabbing the passenger's wrist and screaming "No! That will kill us!"

The passenger had grabbed the helicopter's rotor brake - which is designed for use on the ground - and stops the propeller from moving.

Cherlin Bijlsma, 27, from the Netherlands, was on holiday traveling around the West Coast of the U.S.

One of the pit stops was at the world-famous Grand Canyon, where she decided to take part in a helicopter tour.

Commenting on the moment, Cherlin said: "We watched a safety briefing video - so they must have not paid attention."

The footage shows the pilot grabbing the lever lightly and then almost instantly afterward the woman grabs it herself, resulting in her being reprimanded.

Cherlin added: "When the pilot scolded her I looked at her in between the seats and I saw that she smiled at the pilot.

"It was an awkward smile. I’m not sure if she said anything back to the pilot. I did hear their voices on the audio, but I didn’t hear them at that moment.

"The lady who grabbed the lever was there with what I think was her daughter.

"It looked like she didn’t understand English very well."

The tour group soon managed to get to the Grand Canyon and then made their way back to the base.

Cherlin said: "When we landed my friend - who was also in my travel group - jokingly thanked the pilot for 'saving our lives'.

"The pilot laughed while shaking his head, he said something like 'oh my, oh my'."

The footage was captured on June 14.