17-05-2025
‘No survivors' after helicopters collide in Finland
Two civilian helicopters have crashed into each other in Finland with no survivors reported.
The helicopters had taken off from Estonia and were carrying businessmen on board, with three people in one and two in the other.
Emergency services were called to the crash site west of Helsinki shortly after 12.30pm local time on Saturday.
'The accident has resulted in several fatalities. The exact number of victims and the identities of the passengers are still being determined,' the police said in a statement.
However, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign affairs confirmed to public broadcaster ERR that all those on board the helicopters had died.
A witness said he saw the two helicopters flying close to one another before one 'dropped like a stone'.
'Suddenly, one of the helicopters made a quick movement and, just like that, collided with the other. Shortly afterwards, there was a terrible crash,' Antti Marjanen told Finnish broadcaster Yleisradio Oy.
'One of the helicopters dropped like a stone, while the other spiralled down. After that, I didn't see or hear anything. There was no smoke.'
Rescue workers reportedly located the wreckage of the helicopters in a forested area, located around 100 yards from each other.
Officials gave no indication of what caused the mid-air collision, but a witness told Finnish media there was a 'terrible crash' after one of the aircraft performed a sudden manoeuvre.
Local media named Estonian businessmen Oleg Sõnajalg and Priit Jaagant, and his wife Lilit Jaagant, as being among the victims.
Jaagant's construction company released a statement confirming that he and his wife had died.
Flightradar24 tracking data showed two four-seater Robinson R44 Raven light helicopters that departed from Tallinn, the Estonian capital, were flying near Eura, in south west Finland, when the accident took place.
The passengers were on their way to an air show at Piikajarvi Airfield when they collided, according to the chairman of a nearby aviation club.
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