Five people have been killed on Saturday after two helicopters collided mid-air and crashed in a wooded area near Eura Airport in southwestern Finland, officials said.
According to the police, the mid-air collision happened shortly after noon near the town Kauttua, with the wreckage falling some 700 metres (yards) from Ohikulkutie Road.
Detective Chief Inspector Johannes Siirilä of the National Bureau of Investigation said, “Five people have died in a helicopter accident near Eura Airport on Saturday.”
Read Also: Six Military Personnel Killed in A Sri Lanka Helicopter Crash
According to flight plans, there were two people aboard one helicopter and three in the other, 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.
According to the Pori Aviation Club, the helicopters were on their way to a hobby aviation event, reported Yle News. The National Bureau of Investigation is leading a combined investigation with local police, and Finnish and Estonian officials are working together.
According to flight plans, one helicopter carried two people and the other carried three, police said, adding that both helicopters were registered outside of Finland.
According to a report by Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) and Finland’s Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, one helicopter was registered in Estonia and the other in Austria. Both belonged to Estonian companies. According to the report, one was owned by NOBE and the other by Eleon.
The helicopters were reportedly en route to a hobby aviation event, according to the Pori Aviation Club, Yle News reported.
The National Bureau of Investigation is leading a joint probe with local police, and Finnish and Estonian authorities are cooperating.
.
