Helicopter removes old power lines near Spain’s Montgó Natural Park

An unusual aerial operation has seen a helicopter lift ageing electricity infrastructure from the landscape between Dénia and Jávea, with work now set to continue in another Marina Alta town.

Helicopter lifts old electricity towers

The operation took place on Friday, October 16, in the Les Planes area, close to the Montgó Natural Park and the road linking Dénia with Jávea.

Workers from FCC, the company involved in the removal work, dismantled and prepared the redundant high-voltage electricity towers before a helicopter lifted the metal structures using a steel cable.

The helicopter transported the heavy equipment through the air to a temporary collection point around 100 metres from the operating base, allowing the dismantled infrastructure to be gathered for removal.

The operation was based at an open area beside the former Vicente Ferrer school in Les Rotes, near the junction towards Jávea. The site provided space for the aircraft to land and for ground crews to coordinate the work.

The unusual sight of a helicopter carrying metal structures near Montgó attracted attention, but the aircraft was being used to remove obsolete electrical infrastructure rather than carry out a rescue.

Why old power lines are being removed

The work forms part of efforts to remove disused overhead electricity lines from natural areas in the Marina Alta.

Redundant cables and supporting structures can pose a serious threat to wildlife, particularly birds, which risk colliding with power lines while flying through the landscape.

Removing these installations helps reduce hazards in sensitive natural environments, including areas around the Montgó, where protecting local biodiversity is important.

Using a helicopter allows large structures to be transported from difficult terrain without relying entirely on conventional ground transport. The aircraft can lift dismantled sections and carry them to a designated collection area, while workers handle the preparation on the ground.

Work will continue in Pedreguer

Once the structures had been transported away from the Les Planes section, the crews completed this stage of the operation.

The next phase is scheduled to take place in Pedreguer, where the removal of outdated electricity infrastructure will continue.

The work highlights the practical challenges involved in clearing redundant installations from the Marina Alta’s landscape, particularly in areas close to protected natural spaces.

While the helicopter operation was the most visible part of the project, it depended on the coordinated work of ground crews to dismantle the towers safely and prepare them for lifting.

The removal programme is part of the wider, gradual effort to eliminate obsolete overhead electrical infrastructure from the region’s natural surroundings.