THREE people have died and a fourth remains in hospital in a serious condition following a helicopter crash during a flying lesson on the Isle of Wight, according to Hampshire Police.
Emergency services were called to the site near the A3020 Shanklin Road on Monday morning.
A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesman said a major incident was declared to co-ordinate the response but this had now been stood down.
He said: “We were called at 9.24am to a report that a helicopter had come down in a field near the A3020 Shanklin Road.
“The road is closed due to the number of emergency services vehicles at the scene, so please avoid the area at this time.
“A major incident was called at 9.47am to support the co-ordination of the emergency response but this has since been stood down.
“There has been a multi-agency response to the scene, including colleagues from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, and the Air Accident Investigation Branch.”
The spokesman added that the condition of those involved would not be released until their families had been spoken to.
A spokesman for Northumbria Helicopters said that its aircraft G-OCLV – which is listed as a Robinson R44 II helicopter – was involved in the accident during a flying lesson.
The firm based at Newcastle International Airport said in a statement: “Northumbria Helicopters confirms aircraft G-OCLV was involved in an accident in the Shanklin area on the Isle of Wight.
“The flight, which departed from Sandown Airport at approximately 9am was carrying four passengers on board including the pilot, and was undertaking a flying lesson.
“Northumbria Helicopters is giving its full co-operation to the authorities investigating this incident.”
A spokeswoman for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance confirmed that one person had been airlifted to hospital.
She said: “We have treated and airlifted one patient to the major trauma centre, University Hospital Southampton. Our thoughts are with them, and everyone involved in today’s incident.”
Witness Leigh Goldsmith told the Isle of Wight County Press she was driving towards Shanklin when she saw the helicopter “spiralling” before it went out of sight and came down in a hedge.
She said she was the first on the scene and saw there were four people on board, and she believed the airbags had been activated.
A spokeswoman for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance said: “We can confirm our dispatchers deployed the air ambulance at 09.28am to an incident near Ventnor on the Isle of Wight today.
“The critical care team consisting of a doctor and a specialist paramedic are on scene working alongside our emergency service colleagues.”
A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “Firefighters from Newport, Ventnor and Shanklin were called out shortly before 09.30am on Monday, 25 August, following reports of a light aircraft incident near Shanklin Road.”
A spokesman for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said: “The AAIB was notified of an accident involving a light helicopter on the Isle of Wight this morning. We are deploying a team to commence an investigation.”
