Three people are dead and a fourth remains in a critical condition after a helicopter crashed near Shanklin, Isle of Wight, this morning.
Helicopter Spiralled Before Impact
The crash happened at around 09:24am on Shanklin Road (A3020), close to the village of Gold Hill.
The aircraft had taken off from Sandown Airport just minutes earlier and was reportedly being used for a flying lesson.
Emergency Response
A huge multi-agency response was launched, with police declaring a major incident at 9.47am – though this has since been stood down.
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Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance deployed at 09:28, with one patient airlifted to Southampton General Hospital’s Major Trauma Centre.
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Fire crews from Newport, Ventnor, and Shanklin were sent to the scene.
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Hampshire & Isle of Wight Police and ambulance crews also attended, with roads closed around the crash site.
A Critical Care Team – including a doctor and a specialist paramedic – worked to treat casualties on the ground.
Victims
Northumbria Helicopters, which operates sightseeing flights and training, confirmed the aircraft was being used for a lesson and had four people on board including the pilot.
One survivor has been flown to hospital, while the remaining three are feared dead at the scene.
Investigation Underway
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has deployed a team to the Isle of Wight to determine the cause of the crash.
A spokesman for Hampshire and Isle of Wight 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.
At this time we are unable to provide further information about the people involved, as efforts continue to contact and support their families.
We will not be commenting on the circumstances of the incident but continue to work alongside the Air Accident Investigation Branch.
