Tragic Helicopter Crash in Snowdonia Kills All Five On Board
Mountain Rescue teams have located the crash site of a missing private helicopter in Snowdonia. The Twin Squirrel chopper went down with five people on board – all have died.
Flight from Milton Keynes Ends in Disaster
The helicopter took off from Milton Keynes on Wednesday night, bound for Dublin with a stopover over Caernarfon Bay. It vanished the following afternoon, prompting a huge search operation. Ruth Burke and her husband Kevin, owners of the chopper, were reportedly on board when it crashed.
Massive Search in Stormy Conditions
- Police launched a major air, land, and sea search on Wednesday evening, focusing on the Snowdonia region by Thursday morning.
- Two Coastguard helicopters combed the skies but had to abort their search due to worsening weather.
- Mountain Rescue Teams joined forces with police to scour rugged terrain for signs of the missing aircraft.
- Authorities have appealed for anyone who spotted a low-flying helicopter near Trawsfynydd to come forward.
Details on the Victims and Helicopter Ownership
The sleek Twin Squirrel chopper, owned by Staske Construction Ltd in Milton Keynes, is operated by Kevin and Ruth Burke, who lease it to film crews. The couple purchased it in 2008 after it had multiple owners.
The helicopter’s final destination was Weston Airport on the Dublin-Kildare border. Initial searches focused over the sea, using RAF and civilian helicopters, before concentrating on land.
Superintendent Gareth Evans, North Wales Police, said: “All available Police, Mountain Rescue and civilian resources are being used. We thank the public and MRT volunteers tackling extremely difficult terrain.”
“Five people are believed to have been on this private flight. Specialist police family liaison officers are in contact with next of kin. We are not releasing names yet but send our deepest condolences to the families at this difficult time.”
