London, Aug 26
Three people have died and one remains in serious condition after a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight in Britain, police said.
"We can confirm that three people have died following a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight this morning. Four people in total were on board, with one person currently in hospital in a serious condition," the police said in a statement on Monday.
Earlier, the Air Accident Investigation Branch said it has launched an investigation into the crash, Xinhua news agency reported.
"We will not be commenting on the circumstances of the incident but continue to work alongside the Air Accident Investigation Branch," the police statement added.
Northumbria Helicopters, the operator of the aircraft that crashed, confirmed its aircraft was involved in the accident in the Shanklin area on the Isle of Wight.
According to the operator, the flight "was undertaking a flying lesson."
Emergency services were called to the scene at 09:24 local time (0824 GMT), said the police. One patient was flown to the Major Trauma Centre at University Hospital Southampton, according to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.
Aerial footage on British media showed the body of the aircraft – a G-OCLV model – was significantly damaged.
Emergency responders from various agencies were deployed to the accident site and closed off the road.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Very sad news. Hope the investigation reveals what went wrong. Helicopter crashes during training are particularly concerning. Safety must be paramount in aviation training.
This is why I'm always nervous about small aircraft. Three lives lost in a training flight - so unnecessary. Prayers for the families ðŸ™
Having visited Isle of Wight last year, it's shocking to hear this news. The emergency response seems to have been quick though - hope the investigation brings closure to the families.
While tragic, we should wait for the investigation results before jumping to conclusions about safety protocols. Aviation authorities in UK generally maintain high standards.
So sad to hear this. My thoughts are with the families of the victims. Hope the injured person recovers soon. Life is so fragile 💔
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