Three people have died and a fourth has been taken to hospital after a helicopter crashed near Shanklin on the Isle of Wight.
The aircraft came down at around 9:25am this morning in a field off the A3020 near Ventnor. Emergency services rushed to the scene but were unable to save three of those on board. The fourth occupant was transported to hospital with serious injuries.
On FlightRadar24 it shows the helicopter with callsign G-0CLV disappearing from radar at 9:22am.
It is understood that the flight came down during a flying lesson.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the helicopter spiral out of control before it crashed into a hedge bordering the field.
Police have cordoned off the site, and investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch are examining the wreckage to determine the cause.
Roads in the area were temporarily closed, and officers have appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident or captured footage to come forward.
Statement from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary: “We can confirm that three people have died following a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight this morning.
“Four people in total were on board, with one person currently in hospital in a serious condition.
“At this time we are unable to provide further information about the people involved, as efforts continue to contact and support their families.
“We will not be commenting on the circumstances of the incident but continue to work alongside the Air Accident Investigation Branch.”
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