Puma Crash 5 Jul 11

[Al dunn]

Hi All

Just found this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-14034511" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

No news on crew yet

Alan
EGVN

[RichC]

Saw on ais.live a Coastguard Helo in the Andover area about 30mins ago.

[RichC]

I was supposed to be in the same area tomorrow....
Just hearing more now but i will wait for the BBC to update their news snippit i think. Fingers crossed for the crew.

[TS010]

3pm news on Radio 2 reported no injuries.

[RichC]

BBC updated http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-14034511" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Serious one. But thankfully they walked away.

[colevans]

all ok. lucky escape.

[Flyingmonster]

Had a Puma fly low over Skipton yesterday... Glad the crew are all ok!

[glasfryn]

Puma sat at Pembrey airfield as of 1600. Waiting the okay to RTB. Great news that all crew in the incident are okay.

[Dan D'Air]

Good news that the crew are safe.
It is not one of the ones recently upgraded to HC2 is it?

[fids]

Good news about the crew but the top heavy Puma tips over again.

[headset 57]

The Puma made an emergency landing in a farmer's field close to the Walworth Business Park and next to Picket Twenty. All three air crew on board were unharmed and left the helicopter safely.

The helicopter was on a training exercise from RAF Benson. A police spokesman told Andover Sound: "A military investigation will take place to establish the circumstances that resulted in the incident or caused it."

An RAF spokesperson said that there were no fatalities and the crew were 'walking wounded'. She said the incident took place during a "routine training sortie" at about 1.30pm.

The Puma is a battlefield helicopter used to move troops and heavy loads. It can carry up to 16 fully-equipped men or two tonnes of freight.

Lauren lives in a house next to the field. She told us: "I was just sat in my house and all of a sudden just heard a very loud helicopter come over. Of course they come over all the time so I didn't really think anything of it. Then the emergency services started coming in so I knew something was wrong.

"One of the guys I was speaking to says they went for that field because of the crops to make it a softer landing.

"I didn't speak to the crew but I saw them going in the ambulances. They looked OK. One of them was struggling a bit to walk but I suppose that's shock.

"It's a bit worrying because it could have been our house!"

PC Bill Williams was one of the first people on the scene after the crash. He said: "It's some sort of failure in the mechanics I imagine. It's on its side in the middle of the field and luckily the crew got out nice and safe and are walking wounded."

PC Williams managed to speak to the crew after they escaped from the helicopter. He spoke to Andover Sound and said: "They were fit and well. They were able to tell me how much fuel was in the aircraft.

"One guy, I think the pilot, was holding his back. He was concerned about a back injury. They've all been taken away for checkups and seem to be fine."















http://www.andoversound.com/pages/extra ... -11134.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tracer010]

Good news about the crew but the top heavy Puma tips over again.

I don't think it just tipped over the main gear has been rammed through the sponsons

Mike.

[Arthur Tee]

Good news about the crew but the top heavy Puma tips over again.

I don't think it just tipped over the main gear has been rammed through the sponsons

Mike.

Should polish out.......... you can work wonders with T-Cut!

Would be nice if they gave some consideration to preserving what is left of this 'interesting' airframe. Would go well alongside the Gazelle at Doncaster or the Pucara at Cosford.

Arthur

[KINROTATE]

I have seen cabs at Benson in a worse state put back into action.

[Mike]

According to http://www.ukserials.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; the Puma involved was XW211.