Doncaster helicopter crash: Man, 70, dies as chopper comes down in field near city

A 70-year-old man has died after the helicopter he was flying in crashed in a field near Doncaster.

Emergency services were scrambled to Ings Lane, Bentley, near Doncaster, at 10.15am on Thursday.

Police say the man was treated for "serious injuries" by medics but was pronounced dead at the scene.

The pilot, a 41-year-old man, and two other passengers - a 58-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy - received minor injuries.

According to reports, it is believed the helicopter was a private flight, which took off from Gamston Airport near Retford shortly before it crashed.

FlightRadar24 data shows the helicopter switched on its transponder shortly after takeoff, then appeared to then fly over Doncaster before disappearing from radar at around 10.08am. The first emergency call came in six minutes later.

South Yorkshire Police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) have launched a joint investigation.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Matt Bolger, said: "Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the man who sadly died in this tragic incident.

We and our emergency services colleagues remain at the scene and we have launched a full joint investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident in parallel with our partners at the AAIB.

"As part of our investigation, we'd ask for anyone with information to get in touch. If you were in the area at the time and saw the events unfold, please contact us.

"We are particularly keen to hear from those with footage of the helicopter leading up to the crash.'

An eyewitness, who lives near the crash site, told Yorkshire Live: "It's just missed our house. We live on the very end house of the street next to the train tracks.

"I spoke to a few of my neighbours. I don't think anyone actually saw it come down but at first we all thought it was a train crash because we saw all of the emergency services firing past."