Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / ENGLAND
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

Saturday, 4 August 2007, 16:59 GMT 17:59 UK

Four killed in helicopter crash

Police block the road near the crash site Four people have died in a helicopter crash in bad weather in Cumbria.

The civilian helicopter was found at Sill Field Farm in Gatebeck, near Kendal, on Saturday morning.

Police said the helicopter had taken off from Carnforth, Lancashire, at about 1900 BST on Friday bound for Lochmaben, near Lockerbie, in Scotland.

A search operation involving police, coastguards, mountain rescue teams and an RAF helicopter was mounted when the helicopter failed to arrive.

Police pinpointed its position using signals from the passengers' mobile phones, but by that time a farm worker had spotted the crashed aircraft.

He alerted emergency services at 1122 BST.

A spokesman for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said two bodies were found in the helicopter and two were in a field nearby.

He said the area had experienced heavy rain and strong winds on Friday night.

The area has been cordoned off by police and firefighters from Kendal and Milnthorpe stations.

Officers from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch have begun a crash investigation at the site.

It is understood that the aircraft is a four-seat Robinson 44 light helicopter.




E-mail this to a friend

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service
Cumbria Police
Air Accident Investigation Branch
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©