Tragedy in Finland: Five killed in mid-air helicopter collision

A tragic mid-air collision between two civilian helicopters has claimed the lives of five people in western Finland, authorities confirmed on May 17.

The incident occurred shortly after noon near the town of Kauttua, with the wreckage landing approximately 700 meters from Ohikulkutie road, close to Eura Airport, Caliber.Az reports, citing Western media.

"Five people died in a helicopter accident near Eura Airport on Saturday," Detective Chief Inspector Johannes Siirilä of the Satakunta Police Department said in an official statement.

According to Finnish police, one helicopter was carrying three people and the other two. Both aircraft had reportedly departed from Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, and were en route to Piikajärvi Airport in Kokemäki, located just 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the crash site. Finnish media, citing preliminary information, reported that the passengers were Estonian businessmen.

Authorities from both Finland and Estonia are now working closely to investigate the cause of the collision. Police have cordoned off the area, and roads leading to Eura Airport have been closed to facilitate emergency operations and investigative work.

“Several rescue units and police patrols are at the scene,” police noted, adding that they were alerted to the crash at 12:35 p.m. local time (10:35 a.m. GMT).

The two helicopters were located approximately 100 meters apart in a wooded area near the airport, underscoring the violent nature of the impact. While the cause of the crash remains unclear, Finnish newspaper Iltalehti cited an eyewitness who claimed the helicopters collided during a manoeuvre.

By Khagan Isayev