Helicopter crash in Finland

Helicopter crash in Finland – five people dead

Five people have died after two helicopters collided in Eura in southwestern Finland earlier today, Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported, according to the country's public service channel ERR.

According to Yle, the helicopters are light helicopters with space for four people. One is registered in Estonia and the other in Austria. According to the Estonian ministry, there were two businessmen on board the helicopters.

All passengers and pilots died in the accident.

Eyewitness Antti Marjanen tells Iltalehti that one of the helicopters made some kind of maneuver that caused it to collide with the other.

- One came down like a stone, the other more slowly. I didn't hear a sound.

Was on its way to an air show: “Very sad”

The helicopters involved in the fatal accident in Finland were on their way to an annual meeting for aviation enthusiasts, writes Hufvudstadsbladet.

Ari Pullinen, chairman of the Pori flying club, says that Estonian pilots organize air shows annually and that this year they had chosen the airport in Kumo, Finland. 20 aircraft and helicopters were on the way with about 50 people.

— The aviation circles are small in Finland and even smaller in Estonia. Many have lost a friend, says Pullinen, describing the accident as “very sad and regrettable”.

Five people were traveling in the two helicopters when they crashed for some reason at lunchtime on Saturday. According to Estonian authorities, all on board died.