If a road is completely blocked, your GPS (Route Advisor) will often show a red "blocked" icon, requiring you to find an alternate route to your destination. Customizing the Experience
In reality, the in-game helicopter is a static prop surrounded by emergency vehicles. But the visual impact of that large rotorcraft sitting crosswise on the asphalt is unforgettable—and the navigation system, as players quickly learn, automatically re-route you around it. You're left staring at a red GPS line and a very real problem.
The helicopter event is one of the most significant "Detour" types in the game. Unlike minor fender-benders that might only block one lane, a helicopter landing usually signifies a major emergency, often resulting in a .
When SCS Software injected dynamic detours into ETS2, they aimed to shatter the monotony of predictable long-haul deliveries. The helicopter incident is the highest tier of these "Random Road Events". euro truck simulator 2 helicopter blocked roads upd
| Event Type | Current ETS2 | Proposed Heli Update | |------------|--------------|----------------------| | Car crash | Yes | Enhanced with air ambulance | | Police stop | Yes (ground only) | Police helicopter hovering | | Road construction | Yes | No change | | Helicopter landing | No | Yes (multiple subtypes) | | Air ambulance takeoff/landing | No | Yes |
Many players confuse general road events with the detours mechanic. Understanding how they differ helps manage the frequency of these roadblocks:
If an invisible wall blocks the entire highway width, you can use the game's engine mechanics to force a traffic clear. If a road is completely blocked, your GPS
The helicopter event, however, is part of a more impactful feature known as . Officially introduced to ETS2 in Update 1.36 (December 2019) , detours are "entire road closure events" that force you to find an alternative route. In a helicopter detour, the aircraft lands on the highway, often accompanied by emergency vehicles, completely blocking the lanes. The result is a seemingly impassable barrier that requires you to navigate around it or find a new path to your destination.
If you are playing an older version of ETS2 (pre-1.59) or you keep the detour feature enabled, you will eventually encounter a blocked road. Here are the most common strategies to deal with the situation:
"I'm stuck," Trucker23 said in a forum post. "I was driving on the autobahn, and suddenly there's a helicopter hovering above the road. I had to take a huge detour, which added hours to my journey. Not sure if I like this update." You're left staring at a red GPS line
Real-world highways occasionally see helicopter operations — from German Christoph rescue copters to French Gendarmerie surveillance. Adding them aligns ETS2 closer to actual European driving conditions.
Adjust the slider. Moving it to the right increases the frequency of accidents and helicopter sightings, while moving it to the left makes for a smoother, uninterrupted trip.