Helicopter crash in Vauxhall, central London

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/aviation/9805071/Helicopter-crashes-in-Vauxhall-central-London.html

Latest, 2 dead and 2 injured:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/aviation/9805113/Helicopter-crash-in-London-live.html

Latest: BBC News say that there are 11 injured, as well as two dead. The police have discounted terrorism; I understand it was extremely foggy and the 'copter hit a crane on the top of a building. LL

More pics coming in now, LL. Looks like it was indeed a weather-related tragic accident, not that that is any consolation to the families of those who have lost their lives. I hope the injured are not too badly hurt.

My friends, this was taken from Sky news:

http://news.sky.com/story/1038736/helicopter-crash-in-london-live-updates

Thank you, Pedro.

http://news.sky.com/story/1038710/helicopter-crash-in-vauxhall-pilot-named

Quote:

The helicopter pilot who was killed when his helicopter hit a crane in central London has been named as Pete Barnes.

The helicopter smashed into a crane on St George Wharf Tower, in Vauxhall, amid heavy fog.

It cartwheeled out of the sky, smashed into two cars as it hit the ground and exploded into flames.

Mr Barnes - the only one aboard the helicopter - and a person on the ground were killed, the Metropolitan Police said.
Mr Barnes, who worked for the RotorMotion helicopter charter business, was an experienced pilot who had flown aircraft during production of films such as Die Another Day and Saving Private Ryan.

RotorMotion said in a statement they were "devastated" by the accident and offered their "full support and assistance" to authorities investigating the crash.

Thirteen people were injured. Six are in hospital, with one reported to be in a critical condition, and seven were treated at the scene.

One man was rescued from a burning car.




Some cars caught fire and one man was rescued from a burning vehicle

you welcome bb1.

Terrible thing to happen, not just for the pilot. The people on the ground were just going about their normal, everyday business - and suddenly it's someone's last day on earth, and others have suffered life-changing injuries when a burning helicopter lands on them.

Awful.

one thing I don´t understand: why fly so near the buildings.

I agree with you bb1.

Pedro Silva wrote:one thing I don´t understand: why fly so near the buildings.

It's quite normal for them to fly over London, BUT - it's not clear yet what happened, but there is talk that the warning light that should have been on top of the crane wasn't lit.

The weather was foggy at the time, so the pilot may simply not have known it was there?

Ah, ok, we will have to wait for more updates.

Pedro Silva wrote:one thing I don´t understand: why fly so near the buildings.

Normally, as far as I can remember, they usually fly up the river. Officials from the London Heliport at Battersea, which is located about two miles to the west, confirmed it been unable to make contact with the aircraft after receiving a request via Heathrow air traffic control from the pilot asking to divert due to bad weather. LL

This may help a bit:

Pilot Pete Barnes, who died in the accident, had requested to divert and land at London Heliport at Battersea due to bad weather, according to the owners of the heliport.
It is thought extreme fog and mist shrouded the top of the tower and the crane - including its red safety lights - making it impossible for the pilot to see and avoid.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2263289/Vauxhall-helicopter-crash-inquiry-Could-pilot-warning-light-London-tower.html#ixzz2IAKLAWiZ
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

The crane was listed on pilots charts and flight plans, so they know it is there... HOWEVER...

The pilot was on a different flight plan and asked to divert due to weather, so the location of the crane and such would not have been given to him.

Seemed Police were alerted to the crane having no warning lights on it about 2 or 3 months ago....but how it was not more serious, nobody knows

Re: Helicopter crash in south London
PeterMac Today at 10:29 am

Looks very exciting.
Rush hour
MI6 building just opposite,
The Palace not too far away.
arm of crane now dangling above the street
tube station evacuated
Lots of police sirens - always makes it sound important - and blue lights - ditto

(Incidentally at a major incident there should only be ONE blue flashing light, which indicates the command vehicle. One red one for Fire and so on.
As more 'senior' vehicles arrive the others should be turned off. But they never are.)

---------

'Exciting'? What a sh*t he is.

bb1 wrote:Re: Helicopter crash in south London
PeterMac Today at 10:29 am

Looks very exciting.
Rush hour
MI6 building just opposite,
The Palace not too far away.
arm of crane now dangling above the street
tube station evacuated
Lots of police sirens - always makes it sound important - and blue lights - ditto

(Incidentally at a major incident there should only be ONE blue flashing light, which indicates the command vehicle. One red one for Fire and so on.
As more 'senior' vehicles arrive the others should be turned off. But they never are.)

---------

'Exciting'? What a sh*t he is.

Yep, Fire engines, paramedics, Police all turn up and cannot help people because they have to make sure who is the most senior officer there, so he can keep his light on

I know nothing about the protocol, muratfan, it was the gloating glee of the 'exciting' that got me.

He sounds like the kind of ghoul who takes photos of car crashes.

Yes, he does...They all have some kind of perversion on that site, don't they

They're all like that, they enjoy tragedies, and 'discussing' child abuse, etc. Ghouls, at the very least.

What a terrible tragedy. So sorry to read it.

Pete is one hard hearted sorry excuse for a human being.

My friends, this was taken from Sky news:

http://news.sky.com/story/1039157/helicopter-victim-was-big-guy-with-big-heart