All 5 onboard killed after 2 helicopters crash in Eura

All five people onboard killed after two helicopters crashed at Kauttua area in Eura, a municipality in Western Finland on Saturday afternoon, police said.

The accident took place at about 12:30 p.m. when the helicopters five people onboard -three in one and two in other- crashed on their way to Piikajärvi Airfield in Kokemäki from Tallinn, Estonia. Piikajärvi Airport is located about 15 kilometres from Eura Airport.

Responding to an alarm, rescue service people and police rushed to the spot and found the crashed helicopters at about 2:30 p.m.

“Five people have died in a helicopter accident near Eura Airport on Saturday,” said Detective Chief Inspector Johannes Siirilä of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Police investigation teams and representatives from the Safety Investigation Authority also arrived quickly at the scene of the accident. The Finnish Defence Forces are assisting the police in isolating the accident site.

The authorities found the helicopters involved in the accident destroyed in a wooded area about 100 metres apart. The accident site is located about 700 metres from the Ohikulkutie road.

Both the helicopters were destroyed in the collision and crash, said police.

The authorities knew the identities of the pilots, but identities of the passengers could not be known immediately.

They were coming to attend a gathering of 20 aircraft scheduled to be held at Piikajärvi Airfield, reported national broadcaster Yle, quoting Chairman of Pori Aviation Club.

The aircraft were two four-seater Robinson R44 Raven light helicopters and among the deceased were Estonian businessmen Oleg Sonajalg and Priit Jagant, Estonian media reported.

The police, however, did not divulge the identities of the deceased.

“The Finnish and Estonian authorities are working closely together in response to the accident,“ Siirilä said.

The two helicopters were registered abroad, and the police are investigating their details.

The NBI is investigating into the accident and the events leading up to it in cooperation with the Southwestern Finland Police Department.

The accident site has been isolated, and the police are continuing their technical and tactical investigation at the scene.

In addition, the Safety Investigation Authority is conducting its own investigation at the site.

The police are scheduled to hold a media briefing on Sunday at 13:00 PM.