2 Helicopters Collide Mid-Air In Finland’s Eura Province, Leaving ‘Several Dead’

<p>Several people were killed on Saturday after two helicopters collided mid-air and crashed in western Finland&rsquo;s Eura region, police confirmed. According to a statement issued by the Finnish police, &ldquo;The accident has resulted in several fatalities. The exact number of victims and the identities of the passengers are still being determined.&rdquo;</p>
<p>As per metro.co.uk, the helicopters, carrying a total of five individuals, plummeted to the ground following the collision. Witnesses reportedly looked on in shock as the aircraft smashed into each other above Eura, a western province that recently hosted British helicopter squadrons during the Finnish Army&rsquo;s spring exercises at the end of April.</p>
<p>However, a spokesperson for the Finnish General Staff clarified that neither the Finnish Air Force nor any international military helicopters were involved in the incident.</p>
<p>Police officials noted that while the pilots of both helicopters were known to authorities, the identification of the remaining passengers was still underway.</p>
<p>Antti Marjanen, a resident of Kauttua in Eura, recounted the incident to Finnish news outlet Iltalehti. &ldquo;I looked at them with admiration, as you rarely see such aircraft,&rdquo; he said. Moments later, he observed one of the helicopters making an &ldquo;evasive&rdquo; manoeuvre before colliding with the other. &ldquo;One came down like a stone, the other a little bit like that, little by little. I did not hear any sound,&rdquo; he added, as per metro.co.uk.</p>
<h3><strong>Both Helicopter Took Off From Estonia Capital Tallinn</strong></h3>
<p>Flight tracking data from <a href=”https://x.com/flightradar24/status/1923741961820807549″>FlightRadar24</a> indicated that two helicopters had taken off from Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, around the same time.</p>
<p>While their intended destination was not confirmed, the helicopters were last seen flying side by side in Eura before they abruptly disappeared from radar north of Eura Airport.</p>
<p>Authorities received an emergency call at 12:35 pm local time reporting the collision. Finnish police and search and rescue services later located the wreckages near Eura Airport, although not within the airport&rsquo;s premises. &ldquo;Two helicopters that fell to the ground have been located,&rdquo; the rescue service confirmed, as per metro.co.uk.</p>
<p>Investigations into the cause of the crash and the identities of the deceased are ongoing.</p>