Estonian businessmen among 5 dead as two helicopters collide midair in Finland
Two helicopters collided midair over Finland's Eura province Saturday, killing five on board. The civilian aircraft, carrying Estonian businessmen, crashed near Eura airport. Authorities continue investigating the cause and the victims' identities.
In Short
- Two helicopters collided mid-air over western Eura, Finland.
- Five people were on board; several fatalities reported.
- Helicopters were civilian, carrying businessmen from Estonia.
Two helicopters collided in mid-air over the western Eura province of Finland on Saturday, killing all five on board, Finnish news outlet Helsinki Times reported. The helicopters crashed to the ground after the collision.
Finnish police said that five people were on board the two helicopters, and there were "several fatalities." The authorities are yet to determine the victims and the complete details of the event.
Estonian tycoons Oleg Snajalg, a wind energy pioneer, and Priit Jaagant, construction firm chairman, died in the accident.
The accident occurred close to Eura airport, within the area that British helicopter squadrons had been deployed recently for military manoeuvres in late April. Finnish General Staff verified that no Finnish Air Force or foreign military aircraft were involved. The helicopters were civilian and were said to be carrying businessmen who flew from Estonia.
HELICOPTERS’ FLIGHT PATH AND WITNESS ACCOUNTS
Local media reported that one helicopter had three passengers, and the other had two. Both the helicopters departed from Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, and were on their way to Piikajarvi Airport in Kokemaki, some 15 kilometers from Eura airport. The crash occurred at midday, west of Helsinki, said eyewitnesses.
A witness, Antti Marjanen, told Finnish newspaper Iltalehti that one helicopter appeared to hit the other during a flight maneuver. "One of them dropped like a stone and the other one more slowly. I didn’t hear any sound," he said.
Police arrived shortly after the accident was reported at 12:35 p.m. local time. Rescue and patrol teams are in the area, which has been closed off for investigation. The two helicopters were discovered approximately 100 meters apart in a woodland area close to Eura airport. Airport access roads have been closed to enable emergency services to move safely.