Five people die in collision between two helicopters in Finland
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A fire department vehicle arriving at the crash site of two helicopters in Finland on May 17.
PHOTO: REUTERS
HELSINKI – Five people were killed on May 17 when two helicopters collided and crashed in a wooded area near Eura Airport in south-western Finland, the police said.
The police said the mid-air collision occurred shortly after noon near the town of Kauttua, with the wreckage falling some 700m from the Ohikulkutie road.
“Five people have died in a helicopter accident near Eura Airport on Saturday,” Detective Chief Inspector Johannes Siirila of the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation said.
According to flight plans, there were two people on board one helicopter and three in the other, the police said, adding that both helicopters were registered outside Finland.
One helicopter was registered in Estonia, the other in Austria, according to an Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) report, citing Finland’s Helsingin Sanomat newspaper.
Both belonged to Estonian companies. One was owned by Nobe and the other by Eleon, the report added.
The helicopters were reportedly en route to a hobby aviation event, according to the Pori Aviation Club, Yle News reported.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation is leading a joint probe with the local police, and the Finnish and Estonian authorities are cooperating. REUTERS
