Helicopter crash in Glasgow

[j2 lot]

Breaking news on BBC that a helicopter has crashed into Clutha Vaults on the Clyde !!

[Stu160]

Just reading about that, sad news......

[point n squirt]

Could not have happened at a busier time so sad.

[Mikie711]

Not good, sad news indeed

[Dominic]

Terrible news.

[campbell]

Just picked up on this. Very shocked but nothing that will compare to those involved.

[Mikie711]

See it was a eurocopter EC135 and fell from the sky. Sounds ominously familiar to the EC 225 that crashed in the NS.

[tut]

I thought the police had trained their own pilots by now, but it was a civilian, probably on contract from one of the North Sea operators.

I was seconded to the Thames Valley Police Force in the early '80s when they got their first helicopter to train their observers. As Mike posted, it sounds as if it fell out of the sky, probably gearbox or rotor blade. Anything else the pilot would have had time to try and pick out a clear space, and I also believe it was close to the Clyde so he would have aimed for that if possible.

tut

[GregR]

I thought the police had trained their own pilots by now, but it was a civilian, probably on contract from one of the North Sea operators.

Pure speculation Tut.

[robin]

It's been reported that the pilot was civilian. I agree that the rest is speculation.

Cheers,
Robin

[scottishselise]

His use of 'probably' shows that, no?

[Claws]

I thought the police had trained their own pilots by now, but it was a civilian, probably on contract from one of the North Sea operators.

I was seconded to the Thames Valley Police Force in the early '80s when they got their first helicopter to train their observers. As Mike posted, it sounds as if it fell out of the sky, probably gearbox or rotor blade. Anything else the pilot would have had time to try and pick out a clear space, and I also believe it was close to the Clyde so he would have aimed for that if possible.

tut

Around 100 yds from the river, not very far at all.

The pub itself is only one storey high, flat-ish roof, quite ramshackle looking and next to taller buildings to the rear, it may have appeared like an empty car park from above, at night.
The descent does show signs of *some* control though, as if it dropped like a stone, it would have fully entered the pub, bringing a lot more roof with it.

I hope the death toll doesn't rise any more, it does seem unlikely

[tut]

It was a Bond Helicopter being flown by one of their pilots.

tut

[Claws]

Death toll up to 8, this includes the pilot and 2 Police officers in the helicopter

[j2 lot]

Helicopter went through the pub into the vaults - expected 8 dead inc 3 crew but only 1 body recovered (crew) so far. Recovery suspended until morning when the wreckage will be lifted out