OT R44 helicopter crashes en route to Coventry, England

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_627000/627597.stm>BBC report

(for educational purposes only)

"Wednesday, 2 February, 2000, 02:37 GMT Helicopter crash investigation begins

The helicopter came down in misty conditions.

An investigation into the cause of a helicopter crash in which three people were killed is due to start.

Air accident investigators are travelling from London to examine the wreckage.

The aircraft came down in bad weather on Anglezarke Moor, near Bolton, shortly after taking off from Blackpool Airport on Tuesday evening.

The wreckage was spotted by an RAF helicopter scrambled to the area along with police, fire, ambulance and mountain rescue teams.

Two men were dead at the scene and one man was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital but was later pronounced dead.

Mayday call

Lancashire police said Blackpool Airport control tower had received a Mayday call from the pilot complaining of bad weather before contact was lost with the aircraft.

It is believed the aircraft was an R44 helicopter travelling to Coventry.

Gary Rhodes of the Bolton mountain rescue team said the aircraft had crashed into flat moorland in misty conditions.

Police have sealed the crash site to preserve evidence for the investigators.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), February 02, 2000


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