Troy Gentry, best known as part of the country music duo Montgomery Gentry, was killed in a helicopter crash in New Jersey Friday, September 8th 2017 Fox News has confirmed, He was 50 years old. The Federal Aviation Administration said the helicopter crashed into a wooded area near the Flying W Airport in Medford hours before Montgomery Gentry was due to perform at a resort that is also housed at the airport. The airport announced the cancellation of the gig Friday afternoon. Medford Township Police Chief Richard Meder told NJ.com that police got a call about a helicopter "that was distressed" around 1 p.m. He said crews were able to remove the passenger from the wreckage, but he died on the way to a hospital. The pilot died at the scene and crews were working to remove his body, Meder said. It wasn't immediately clear whether Gentry was the pilot or the passenger.
Gentry was born on April 5, 1967, in Lexington, Kentucky, where he met bandmate Eddie Montgomery and formed a group based off their last names. The duo had success on the country charts, scoring five No. 1 hits. The band was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2009. The duo is best known for their singles “My Town,” “Daddy Won’t Sell The Farm” and “Gone.” On September 14, 2017, a public memorial service for Gentry was held at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, On November 5, 2018, the final National Transportation Safety Board report was issued, with the accident being primarily attributed to the pilot's " failure to maintain rotor rpm... which resulted in an uncontrolled descent." Gentry's death was on the same day as country legend Don Williams.
In 2004, Gentry purchased a black bear named "Cubby" from a facility called the Minnesota Wildlife Connection and subsequently shot the bear from inside an electrified enclosure, a practice commonly known as canned hunting. On November 27, 2006, Gentry pleaded guilty to a charge of falsely tagging a bear that was killed in a fenced enclosure as if it had been killed in the wild. Under the plea agreement, he agreed to pay a $15,000 fine, give up hunting, fishing and trapping in Minnesota for five years and forfeit Cubby's taxidermied remains and the bow he used to shoot Cubby. In a statement that he posted on the duo's website on November 9, 2010, he apologized for his actions as well as the unethical manner in which he killed Cubby.
The helicopter landed on the pitch an hour after the Premier League match between Leicester City and West Ham United finished - Pilot killed in Leicester helicopter crash was 'living the dream' says close friend, Eric Swaffer died alongside his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz. The pilot of the helicopter which crashed outside Leicester City's King Power Stadium on Saturday 27th October 2018 "would have done all he could" to save the lives of bystanders, a friend has said. Lucie Morris-Marr, who was friends with Mr Swaffer for 18 years, has described how pilot Eric Swaffer was "living the dream" as he travelled the world with his soulmate. Mr Swaffer died alongside his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz in the crash which also claimed the lives of club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and two of his staff members, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare.
The helicopter crashed and burst into flames outside the King Power Stadium - Mr Swaffer was at the controls of the aircraft when it crashed in a car park just metres from the King Power Stadium on Saturday evening. Ms Morris-Marr said he would have done all he could to prevent lives being lost in the incident. She told the Press Association: "Having been lucky to have known him as a friend and flown with him a few times as a passenger, it doesn't surprise me that he would have done all he could to save lives and do everything in his power to avoid a worse outcome in those final moments. He was an incredible person and very focused when flying." The 43-year-old said Mr Swaffer was experienced at flying several types of aircraft, but had a "passion" for helicopters.
Late owner of Leicester Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, alongside his son (Image: Leicester City FC via Getty Images) - Describing him as "extremely funny, charming and cheeky with a wicked sense of humour", she added: "Everyone loved him. I'm not surprised the chairman hired him. He was always great company. "I would always ask him about his famous clients but he was so discreet which is why they hired him, of course. He was so generous and kind to his friends - when I lived in London he once flew us in a helicopter to a country hotel for afternoon tea. "He loved his life. And he seemed to be living the dream flying with his girlfriend. Which is why their sudden passing in this tragedy is so terribly, terribly sad."
School pays tribute to Eric Swaffer
Brighton College has described former pupil Eric Swaffer as a "kind and popular" student. Head master Richard Cairns said: "It is with great sadness that the school learnt today that one of our former pupils, Eric Swaffer, died at the weekend. "Eric was at Brighton College from 1979 to 1983 and fell in love with flying when, as a schoolboy cadet, he visited a Royal Navy ship flight deck. "His contemporaries and teachers remember him as a kind and popular boy. We send our deepest condolences to his family."
Eric Swaffer and Izabela Lechowicz are among the dead (Image: FACEBOOK•SWNS) Mr Swaffer and Ms Lechowicz were both professional pilots and lived together in Camberley, Surrey. Ms Morris-Marr said the couple had been together for about 10 years. She said: "In recent years they have been in high demand from private clients in particular and have been flying private jets and helicopters as a duo enabling them to travel to some amazing locations such as Greece, Thailand and Vienna. "Recently, I was pleased to see from his Facebook posts that he had put down roots and bought a beautiful home with Izabela in Camberley. They were often having dinner parties with their many friends." Speaking to Stephen Nolan on BBC Radio 5 Live, Ms Morris-Marr described their romance as an "aviation love story", adding: "Not many people get to work and travel with their soulmate, travelling the world going to glamorous places."
Ms Lechowicz, who moved to the UK from Poland in 1997, was selected by her country's London embassy as one of 18 exceptional Polish women who inspired the community in the UK for being a pilot. Writing earlier this year about becoming a pilot as part of the project to celebrate women getting the vote in Poland in 1918, she said she was inspired by her partner. She added: "Shortly after (coming to the UK) I also met my partner, who back then worked as an airline and helicopter pilot. "He took me out for a few flights, and that is how it all started. I knew this is something I want to do from the moment I touched the controls for the first time." The Polish embassy described Ms Lechowicz as "a wonderful pilot" who "created a positive image of Poland in the UK". "It is with great sadness that we received news of the death of Izabela Lechowicz in the Leicester helicopter crash," a statement said. "Our deepest condolences to her family."
Glamorous globetrotting life of fitness fanatic Miss Thai Universe runner-up, Nursara Suknamai, who became Leicester City owner’s personal assistant
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 60, was a billionaire and founder of duty-free consortium King Power International. He bought Leicester City in 2010 for £39m. He cleared their debts and saw the club win promotion to the top flight four years later. They then beat odds of 5,000-1 to claim the Premier League title in 2015-16 in one of the greatest sporting surprises of all time. The Foxes reached the Champions League quarter finals a year later. After the remarkable Premier League title victory he donated £2m to Leicester Hospitals Charity to help develop a new children's hospital at Leicester Royal Infirmary. The father-of-four was ranked as the fifth richest person in Thailand by Forbes Magazine. Mr Vichai "never gave interviews", so "although much-loved in Leicester, he remained something of an enigma". The owner would fly to Leicester's home games in his helicopter from his property in London - or his other house in Berkshire where he kept his horses - then return the same way.
Image Left - Kaveporn Punpare"He loved living in the UK and loved the lifestyle his enormous wealth could bring," said Mr Head. "He was a great connoisseur of fine wines, he loved gambling and he loved horses." The Duke of Cambridge, who is President of the Football Association, said in a statement: "I was lucky to have known Vichai for several years. He was a businessman of strong values who was dedicated to his family and who supported a number of important charitable causes. "He made such a big contribution to football, not least through Leicester City's magical 2016 season that captured the imagination of the world."
Image Above - Izabela Lechowicz, Ms Lechowicz, who was also a pilot, moved to the UK from Poland in 1997. The 46-year-old was a winner of the #polka100 award, an accolade for "exceptional women who inspire the Polish community in Britain". Her profile on the Polish Embassy website said she first came to the UK just after graduating from a food technology course in Wroclaw. She said on the website: "I quickly met my current partner, who is a pilot flying passenger planes and helicopters. He took me with him several times - and that's how it began. From the first touch of the controls, I knew that this was it." In a statement, the Polish Embassy said: "With great sadness, we received the news about the death of Izabela Lechowicz in the Leicester catastrophe. "She was a great pilot, winner of the #Polka100 contest. It contributed to the creation of a positive image of Poland in the UK."
Ms Nusara was a runner-up in Miss Thailand Universe in 2005 where she was listed as being from Bangkok province. Her performance won her the title Miss Intercontinental Thailand and Miss Photogenic. The 32-year-old was a member of the chairman's staff and was active on Instagram, where she posted some photographs with Leicester City players. Her profile also showed that she travelled extensively, posting photographs taken in Thailand, Paris, the Cotswolds, and London in the last couple of months.
Mr Kaveporn, 33, from Bangkok, was a member of Mr Vichai's staff. He was one of the chairman's personal assistants.
The helicopter crash that killed Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in October was caused by a faulty mechanism in the helicopter's tail rotor mechanism, causing the pilot to lose control of the aircraft, British investigators said. In a report published investigators announced they believed based on evidence recovered from the crash that the pilot lost control of the right yaw function of the helicopter after a piece of the tail rotor control mechanism became disconnected. The report made no mention of foul play and said authorities are still probing the "initiating cause and exact sequence of the failure that resulted in the loss of tail rotor control." Srivaddhanaprabha's death was a stunning blow to the club and its supporters, as Leicester City had had an extraordinary run of success under his ownership.
Flowers and tributes being left at the scene at the King Power Stadium in Leicester the morning after the helicopter crash (SWNS) - Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 60, was pictured boarding his £6m AgustaWestland AW169 helicopter in the King Power Stadium at about 8.25pm following his side’s 1-1 draw against West Ham on the Saturday of the disaster. Shortly afterwards, the aircraft plunged to the ground in an empty car park, suggesting the pilot may have sought to avoid more crowded adjoining areas as the spinning helicopter lost height. A police officer described by witnesses as using his baton to try to smash open the windows of the helicopter before being beaten back by the flames was commended for his bravery last night. But there was no confirmation of the death until Sunday night when the club released a statement.
The moment the Leicester City chairman's helicopter fell from the sky before crashing outside the club's stadium was captured on CCTV.
Witnesses described how the helicopter, which had been due to fly to Luton Airport, appeared to lose control shortly after taking off and went into a spin before hitting the ground on the outer edge of a car park.
Ryan Brown, a photographer covering the game, said the aircraft had appeared to stall shortly after take off.
He told BBC Radio Leicester: “The engine stopped and I turned round and it made a bit of a whirring noise, like a grinding noise. The helicopter just went silent. I turned round and it was just spinning, out of control. And then there was a big bang and then [a] big fireball.”
Tributes of a minute’s silence were held at Sunday’s two Premier League matches between Burnley and Chelsea and Crystal Palace and Arsenal. Leonardo Helicopters, the owner of AgustaWestland, said the accident was the first concerning its AW169 model.
A mural of the Leicester City Football Club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha (Photo: PA)
Community Policing by (khrawlings)
Touching the face of his hero by (timnutt)
Ranieri - LCFC (Lord Leigh) by Lord Leigh
Quebec hockey player-turned-singer Roberto (Bob) Bissonnette was killed in a helicopter crash near Campbellton, N.B., on Sunday. His death was confirmed by the Québec Capitals baseball team, of which Bissonnette was a shareholder. The pilot, Frederick Décoste, was also killed. Team president Michel Laplante was injured and is expected to survive. Pilot fatigue, drugs may have also contributed to crash last fall that killed 2 Quebec men, injured a third. A helicopter crash in northern New Brunswick last fall September 2nd, 2016 that killed two Quebec men and injured a third was caused by low altitude and speed, according to the Transportation Safety Board. Pilot fatigue and drugs may have also contributed to the Bell 206B helicopter colliding with unmarked power cables 58 feet above the Restigouche River in Flatlands, about 16 kilometres west of Campbellton, on Sept. 4, 2016, the board suggested in a report released on Wednesday. "Intentional low-altitude flying is risky, particularly without pre-flight planning and reconnaissance, and may result in a collision with wires or other obstacles, increasing the risk of injury or death," the board said in a statement.
Singer Bob Bissonnette, right, posted this image on Instagram and Facebook on Saturday with the French-language caption: 'Headed to Caraquet, N.B. Quiet in the helicopter!!" Bissonnette and pilot Frederick Décoste were killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday. (Instagram ) Quebec hockey player-turned-singer Roberto (Bob) Bissonnette and the pilot, Frederick Décoste, were killed when the helicopter severed the power cables, smashed into an embankment, was "catastrophically damaged" and fell into a shallow part of the river around 3:47 p.m. — just 13 minutes after takeoff from the Charlo Airport. Michel Laplante, president of the Quebec Capitals baseball team, who was in the rear seat, was injured in the crash, which occurred near the Quebec border. Bissonnette's family declined to comment on the findings. His relatives decided at the time of his death to keep their comments and emotions to themselves, his mother Lisette Lemelin explained in an email on behalf of the family. "It's difficult enough," she stated in French.
Image Above - Roberto (Bob) Bissonnette plays acoustic guitar. The helicopter was flying low at least partly "for sightseeing purposes," said Jean-Marc Ledoux, the TSB's manager for the Quebec region.
Low altitudes also "provide good sensations for the pilot and the passengers, where you can see the terrain going fast underneath you," he said. The pilot was likely unaware the unmarked power cables spanned the river and the tall trees along both sides of the river were hiding the transmission towers that probably would have alerted him, said Ledoux. The investigation concluded the low altitude and "normal cruising speed" at which the helicopter was flown made the cables difficult to see and avoid "in a timely manner," he said. Still, the safety board found the cables did not require any lighting or marking.
Image Above - Even though the river was generally shallow the impact and subsequent destruction of the craft killed Bissonnette and his pilot Frederick Décoste. "The regulation is really clear on that subject — aircraft should not fly closer than 500 feet from any obstacle, people or structure unless it's for takeoff or landing, which was not the case," said Ledoux. The cables would need to be considered an obstacle to air navigation in order to be flagged, he said. Under the regulations, only objects higher than 300 feet above the ground are defined as obstacles, unless they're near an airport, heliport or water base, which was not the case.
Image Above - Bell 206 helicopter - Physiological factors" also "had the potential to degrade the pilot's decision-making and performance, although their specific effects on the pilot could not be determined," the statement from the Transportation Safety Board said. The investigation found the pilot had "limited opportunities to sleep" prior to the flight and was likely experiencing "acute fatigue" at the time of the crash. In addition, a post-mortem toxicological exam revealed the presence of cannabinoids in the pilot's system. Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in marijuana.
Downed power lines near the site of the helicopter crash. (Radio-Canada)
Meghan Gerrish, a spokeswoman for NB Power, said the crash affected two transmission lines that run between Quebec and Eel River.
At the height of the power outages, Gerrish said there were about 14,000 customers without electricity.
By 9:06 p.m. AT, there were still 2,540 customers dealing with outages. "Conclusions regarding impairment, or the time at which the cannabinoids were used, could not be made," the safety board said. Ledoux said it's difficult to interpret the concentration of tetrahydrocannabino, or THC — the chemical compound in cannabis responsible for a euphoric high — found in blood or tissue after death. There's a process called post-mortem redistribution of concentration that affects the readings, he said. That's why the board was unable to determine how soon before takeoff the pilot consumed the pot, or the effect on his performance, said Ledoux.
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A map showing the flight path and subsequent crash caused by low flying. But the regulations clearly state a pilot should not be under the influence of any alcohol, drugs or medication, he said. "Flight crew members who use cannabinoids risk impaired performance and decision-making, jeopardizing the safety of the flight," the board's statement said. The helicopter, which was en route to the Rivière-du-Loup Airport, was equipped with an emergency locator transmitter, or ELT.
But the investigation determined the search-and-rescue satellite system did not receive a signal from it because the antenna broke off and the device sank into the river. The Transportation Safety Board issued four recommendations in 2016 to address deficiencies in design standards for the transmitters that may delay search-and-rescue operations after an accident. "International collaboration is now underway to improve ELT specifications," the statement said.
Michel Laplante says everything went black for about 30 seconds. "I am sad for the loss of those two people. Bob was a friend who I was very close to. It was a privilege to spend the last moments with him," Laplante said about the 35-year-old former hockey player turned rock musician. "He was always smiling."
Michel Laplante says the toughest part about surviving the helicopter crash is getting through the grief of losing two friends. "It's hard to balance between the joy of being alive and the sadness of losing two people like that," Laplante told a news conference. The findings are based on an examination of the site and wreckage, which was hauled from the river two days after the crash by safety board officials, working with representatives of the helicopter's insurance company and the New Brunswick Department of Environment. Bissonnette was a Quebec Capitals shareholder. Before his musical career, he played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, including a stint with the Acadie-Bathurst Titans. After his hockey career, Bissonnette settled in Quebec City and became a sales rep. He was also a popular singer who regularly performed at venues around Quebec and was known for his joie de vivre. An injured and bleeding Laplante was rescued by some Good Samaritans, which was caught on video.
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Laplante was transported to the Campbellton Regional Hospital and was doing "miraculously well" in the days following the crash, his daughter Janel Laplante said at the time. The Transportation Safety Board is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety and it does not try to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.
Image Above - Michel Laplante, a rear-seat passenger in the helicopter, survived the crash and passersby helped him to shore. (Facebook)
Colin Steele McRae, MBE, (5 August 1968 – 15 September 2007) was a British rally driver from Lanark in Scotland, The son of five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy Mcrae and brother of rally driver Alister Mcrae, Colin McRae was the 1991 and 1992 British Rally Champion and in 1995 became the first British person and the youngest to win the World Ralley Championship title, a record he still holds. McRae's outstanding performance with the Subaru World Rally Team enabled him to win the World Rally Championship Constructors title three times in succession in 1995, 1996, and 1997. After a four year spell with the Ford Motor Co. team, which saw Mcrae win nine title events, he moved to Citroen World Rally team in 2003 where, despite not winning an event, he helped them win the first of their three consecutive manufacturers' titles. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to motorsport in 1996.
Image Above - Colin Mcrae drives for Subaru Impreza World Ralley Championships - 1989-2008. McRae died in 2007 when he crashed his helicopter near his home. The accident also killed his son and two family friends. In November 2008 he was posthumously inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame. McRae died on 15 September 2007 when his helicopter, a Eurocopter AS350 crashed 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Lanark, Scotland close to the McRae family home. McRae's five-year-old son Johnny, and two family friends, Graeme Duncan and Johnny's six-year-old friend Ben Porcelli, also died in the crash. McRae's previously active website, ColinMcRae.com, was later replaced with a memorial screen stating a few details about the crash, and then with a short statement released on behalf of McRae's father, Jimmy, and later a book of condolences.
Young Colin McRae (left) with his Talbot Sunbeam
Colin McRae behind the wheel of Vauxhall Nova in 1988
McRae was driving Citroen Xsara WRC in 2003 and one last time in 2006
Colin was the British Rally champion in 1991 and 1992 with Subaru Legacy RS
Flying in Ford Focus WRC - Image Right Mk1-Escort-T-Shirt-Original-Boy-Racer-Classic-Ford-Retro-Rally-Car
After the crash, an investigative team from the UK Department for Transport Air Accidents Investigation Branch attended the scene in co-operation with Strathclyde Police. The wreckage of the helicopter was removed to Farnborough for further forensic investigation. A report into the accident was published on 12 February 2009. In it, the AAIB did not reach a definite conclusion as to the cause of the accident, stating instead that "the helicopter crashed in a wooded valley while maneuvering at high speed and low height. It was intact prior to impact, and the available evidence indicated that the engine was delivering power. The cause of the accident was not positively determined. Although no technical reason was found to explain the accident, a technical fault could not be ruled out entirely. However, it is more likely that the pilot attempted a turning manoeuvre at low height, during which the helicopter deviated from its intended flight path; whether due to the pilot encountering handling difficulties, misjudgment, spatial disorientation, distraction or a combination of such events. There were indications that the pilot had started a recovery but, with insufficient height in which to complete it, the helicopter struck trees in the valley and crashed, killing all four occupants."
A Fatal Accident Injury Inquiry into the incident concluded, on 6th September 2011, that McRae was at fault for the avoidable helicopter crash that led to his death and the death of his passengers. Sheriff Nikola Stewart stated, after the 16-day inquiry, that McRae had been engaged in "unnecessary and unsafe" low-level flying at the time of the crash. Following his win at the Brands Hatch meeting of the 2007 World Touring Car Championship season, Andy Priaulx dedicated it to McRae, commenting that his death "shows how fragile life can be". McRae's former rival, four-time World Rally Champion Tommi Makinen commented the helicopter accident as terrifying news, and described McRae as "a pleasant fellow and a tough rival".
Valentino Rossi who was taught the basics of driving a rally car by McRae, said he was shocked and saddened by the sudden departure of the former World Rally Champion. Valentino dedicated his win at Estoril MotoGp in 2007 to Colin McRae saying to the media "I want to dedicate this to Colin McRae. He was one of my big idols when I was very young and it's because of him I have a big passion for rally". As a mark of respect for McRae, the Swedish Rally organisers set up an award for the longest jump over a crest on the Vargåsen stage of the rally. The inaugural winner of the award, named Colin's Crest, was Ford's United Arab Emirates driver Khalid al-Qassimi who recorded a distance of 30 m.
Three more people perished in the crash - From left to right, Graeme Duncan and Johnny's six-year-old friend Ben Porcelli and Johnny McRae.
Image above - The site of the deadly crash - Eurocopter AS350 crashed 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Lanark, Scotland close to the McRae family home
Donald Milne in his beloved aircraft - A former Scottish rally champion has died after his light aircraft was struck by a helicopter in Spain. Donald Milne, 65, who mentored late rally world champion Colin McRae, was critically injured in the accident near Alicante on 30th December 2017. The father-of-two was originally from Aberdeen but had lived in Spain and Dubai for more than 20 years. An investigation into the crash, which involved a fire service helicopter, concluded it was a tragic accident. The ex-businessman's eldest son, Quintin, had recently told his father that he should be taking things more easily at his age after he started getting into acrobatics. Mr Milne responded: "I'd rather go in my beloved aeroplane than having you spoon-feed me later on."
Scene of the crash site - Paying tribute to his father, Quintin said: "He was a larger than life character who lived life to the full. "My dad was loved by so many people and he helped so many people. "He will be sorely missed by his family and the response we have had over the last few days has only confirmed what a wonderful man he was." Mr Milne started his career in the oil industry in Aberdeen in the 1970s and set up his own drilling services company, Apex Tubulars. He travelled the world with his work and later as a consultant after he sold his business in the late 1990s.
Fiona with Donald Milne - Career highlight
Mr Milne's main passion was rally driving and in 1988 he helped a young Colin McRae win his first Scottish Championship by lending him cars. McRae, who died in a helicopter crash in 2007, went on to win two British titles and the 1995 world title. The highlight of Mr Milne's career came in 1991 when he won the Scottish Championship. The championship's official Facebook page posted: "We are extremely saddened to hear of the sudden passing of 1991 Scottish Rally Champion, Donald Milne. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to Quintin, Freddie and family."
After fulfilling his rally dream, Mr Milne reverted to his other great passion. He had been flying since the age of 28 and was a fully-qualified commercial pilot with thousands of hours of experience. Mr Milne was critically injured at about 16:00 on 30 December when his Bucker Biplane light aircraft was struck by a fire service helicopter at the private Mutxamel airfield, near Alicante. His son Quintin said: "My dad was on final approach to land and was approximately 100ft from the runway. "He had right of way and was committed to land. "The helicopter took off underneath him and made contact with his aircraft.
Image Above - Donald Milne (middle) at the Burmah Scottish Rally Championship in 1994 - "The communication tower was unmanned as it is a quiet airfield and it was just before New Year. "It was a tragic turn of events that could have been avoided." Mr Milne later died from his injuries in Alicante General Hospital.
A private cremation was held in Spain on Tuesday. The family plan to hold a celebration of his life in Aberdeen at a later date. Mr Milne is survived by wife Fiona, 61, and sons Quintin, 37, and Freddie, 28.
Emergency services worked near the accident site outside the city of Umea - NINE people have died after a tourist plane smashed into a Swedish river on Sunday 14th July 2019. Local media reports claim the plane plunged into a river outside Umea as it returned from a skydiving trip.
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The horrifying moment a plane loses control and crashes down with the loss of nine lives.
Emergency personnel move a part of a wing and other plane wreckage retrieved from the crash site at Ume river outside Umea, Sweden, on Monday July 15, 2019. (Erik Abel / TT via AP) - Witnesses have claimed they could see parachutists attempting to jump out of the plane as it careened into the ground. Nine people have been killed after the plane carrying them to carry out a parachute jump crashed into an island in eastern Sweden local media reported on Sunday. The plane left Umea airport shortly after 1.30pm, and sounded an alarm at 2.12pm, before crashing. Region Vasterbotten municipality spokeswoman Gabriella Bandling said: "I can confirm that all those aboard the plane have died". Speaking to regional media, witnesses have claimed they could see parachutists attempting to jump out of the plane as it careened into the ground. Footage of the crash captured by a local 16-year-old showed the plane spiralling as it nosedived into Storsandskar, an island close to the airport.
Swedish officials said a small plane carrying parachutists crashed in northern Sweden on Sunday and all nine of the people on board were killed. (Samuel Pettersson/TT via AP) - Airport operators have claimed the plane was a GippsAero GA8 Airvan – a small aircraft popular with skydiving operations that is designed to carry eight people including the pilot. Local rescue service representative Conny Qvarfordt told local media “It's a parachute plane, and something seems to have happened just after take-off.” Police are now working to identify the passengers as they pick apart the circumstances behind their deaths. The Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he had received the news “with great grief”. He added: “I think of the dead and their relatives in this difficult time”.
Umeå airport with two aircraft - from the Swedish airline Linjeflyg and the Finnish airline Finnair. Date: 1962-1965 (Format: Film negative) The speaker of the Swedish parliament Talman Andreas Norlen added: "Every person has an infinite value. When nine people are pulled away at the same time, a large tear occurs in our social fabric. "Let us give a thought to those who died in the air accident at Umea, but also to their closest and all others whose lives will never really be the same again."
2013 Glasgow helicopter crash!
A fatal accident inquiry has opened to examine how a police helicopter crashed onto a roof of a packed out Glasgow pub killing ten people and injuring 31. At least 100 people were at the Clutha Vaults pub when the Police Scotland helicopter, returning to its base on the banks of the River Clyde, crashed through the roof on 29 November 2013. The crash killed two crew members and seven customers as it smashed down into the drinking establishment. The first person to give evidence was eyewitness Andrew Bergin, the 30-year-old solicitor from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, told how he was walking by the riverside on the night in question. He said of the helicopter: “When I first started to watch there was nothing particularly abnormal about it. I suppose I liked to watch it go past as most people do.
Rescue workers lift the wreckage of a police helicopter that crashed into Pub in central Glasgow, Scotland December 2, 2013.
Officers continue to sift through the wreckage at the site where a police helicopter crashed into the roof of the packed 'Clutha' pub on Friday, trapping many inside in choking dust and debris. (Picture: Reuters) - “As it got to my 7 o’clock, over my left shoulder, it made what I can only describe as a spluttering noise. It wasn’t any lower than I would have seen it before. “The tail of the helicopter dipped and pointed to the ground. Simultaneously, the light on the helicopter went out. “It seemed to me that the rotor stopped spinning. It was still turning, but not under power. “It seemed to immediately lose height as soon as the spluttering occurred. “Everything happened more or less at the same time.” Ernest Doherty, 64, from South Lanarkshire, had finished work and was walking along Buchanan Street when a sound from above grabbed his attention. “It made a sound like an old car trying to start,” he said, “But trying to start 1,000 times louder. “As I looked up above the buildings I saw the helicopter come down passing the church.”
Rescue workers lift the wreckage of a police helicopter that crashed into Pub in central Glasgow, Scotland December 2, 2013. The FAI heard tributes to Samuel McGhee, 56; Gary Arthur, 48; Robert Jenkins, 61; Colin Gibson, 33; John McGarrigle, 57; Joe Cusker and Mark O’Prey, 44. The tribute for Robert Jenkins described the emotional pain his death had caused his partner Mary Kavanagh. “They had only been in the bar for 40 minutes when tragedy struck,” it said. “All Mary Kavanagh wants to know is why she went in that bar with the man she was to spend the rest of her life with and came out alone.” The purpose of the FAI is to determine the cause of the deaths, establish whether they could have been prevented and enable the sheriff to make recommendations that could prevent fatalities in similar circumstances. An Air Accidents Investigations (AAIB) report published in 2015 found two fuel supply switches were off and the pilot did not follow emergency procedures after a fuel warning in the cockpit. The Crown Office has previously said there is insufficient evidence for criminal proceedings.
Image Left in that order - Nine of the Clutha victims: (These three people were in the helicopter) Pilot David Traill, PC Kirsty Nelis, PC Tony Collins, These six people were in the Clutha pub - Credit: PA:Press Association. Gary Arthur, Colin Gibson, Mark O'Prey, Samuel McGhee, Robert Jenkins and John McGarrigle
A total of 57 Crown witnesses are expected to give evidence at the inquiry, down from a previous estimate of 85. Police have taken more than 2,000 statements as part of preparations for the FAI, while the Crown has around 1,400 productions. The pilot of a helicopter that crashed killing ten people was “very good” in a proficiency test months before the accident, a fatal accident inquiry has been told. David Traill died with his crew members Tony Collins and Kirsty Nelis when they crashed on the roof of the Clutha Vaults in Glasgow on November 29, 2013.
An engineer described the level of maintenance carried out on helicopters in Glasgow as "an accident waiting to happen", the Clutha helicopter crash inquiry has heard. Paul Booth wrote his concerns in a shift handover to management. He was a licensed helicopter engineer with Bond Air Services, the operators of the aircraft which crashed into Glasgow's Clutha pub in November 2013. An inquiry heard he wrote his remarks the day before the crash. Mr Booth's handover read: "I am extremely concerned at the way we are having to carry out in depth maintenance on our aircraft at Glasgow. "It is an accident waiting to happen." Mr Booth said he had written this at the end of a busy shift and had not expected anything like the Glasgow crash to happen. The pilot of the doomed helicopter had reported fuel fluctuations in the aircraft to Mr Booth in the days before the crash.
Joe Cusker 59, also died after almost two weeks in intensive care at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
Owner Alan Crossan said it has been incredibly difficult to decide what to do with the pub since the crash but now hopes to reopen by May. Mr Booth said he did not have time to change the fuel probe that week and put it in a handover to management at Bond. He said he wanted his managers to know how he felt at the end of a busy shift. He said he got no response. Mr Booth said he would stay on after his shift as he went above and beyond but had said sometimes when he came off his shift he was absolutely shattered. The incident with the fuel probe was reported on 24 November 2013 but was not entered into the defects log. If it had, according to the manual, it would have to have been replaced by 27 November. By the time of the crash on 29 November, the part had still not been replaced.
The tremendous impact created by the helicopter produced a tremendous amount of dust and debris that virtually destroyed everything inside the public house. The Clutha, which has been situated on the banks of the River Clyde since 1819. The inquiry has previously heard evidence from police observer PC Alan Graham, who had flown with the Clutha crash pilot David Traill. PC Graham said he had been in a police helicopter with Mr Traill when a red fuel warning light came on, PC Graham said Captain Traill acknowledged the warning and seemed "happy with his fuel calculations" - he also described him as "very competent". PC Alan McLaren, 45, earlier told the inquiry he agreed that Captain Traill was "a stickler for procedure". Air traffic controller Andrew Campbell has also given evidence - he said Air Traffic Control at Glasgow Airport had no concerns about the flight. The inquiry heard that the aircraft did not have a flight recorder which meant there was no data about when fuel warnings came on and the length of time they stayed on.
Many drinks and glasses can still be seen in the bar area, which was ripped apart when the helicopter crashed through the pub's roof - It happened so fast no one had any time to react. 51 year old Pilot David Traill had flown Chinook helicopters in the RAF for 20 years and in more recent stages as an instructor, He had worked for the police for four years, and had 646 hours of flight experience on the EC135. The helicopter carried 400 kilograms (880 lb) of fuel at takeoff, The flight, callsign SP99, was initially involved in the search for a suspected trespasser on railway lines around Eglinton Toll, it was then tasked to Dalkeith in Midlothian, around 44 miles (71 km) east of its base, before returning to the Glasgow area. A few minutes before the crash, the pilot had received air traffic control clearance to return to Glasgow City Heliport.
Emergency Services personnel form a Guard of Honour salute as a private ambulance leaves carrying one of the victims from the Clutha Vaults pub in Glasgow after a Police helicopter crashed into it on a Friday night. At 22:22 approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) east of its home base, the helicopter came down on the flat roof of the Clutha bar in Stockwell Street (Clutha is Latin for the River Clyde, which is adjacent to the pub). No distress call was made. A ska band, Esperanza, was playing in the pub at the time of the crash and there were reported to be around 120 people in the building, some of whom were trapped by the collapsing roof. Thirty-two others were injured, twelve seriously, one of whom died some days later.
Scottish Fire and Rescue services look on as the helicopter is lifted onto a trucks trailer to be driven away from the scene Monday - The helicopter that crashed at the time of the accident had flown for 6,351 hours and made 9,385 landings. The craft was a Eurocopter EC135 T2+ serial 0546, registered G-SPAO and was manufactured in 2007. A report carried out by the Air Accidents Investigation Board (AAIB) stated that the cause of the accident was mismanagement of the fuel system by the pilot, despite the body’s preliminary report highlighting “contributory factors” to the crash, including a water leak that resulted in inaccurate fuel readings. Former RAF engineer Jimmy Jones has said that he believes the fatal accident inquiry (FAI), due to begin in April next year, will absolve Captain Traill of all blame.
Emergency Services personnel form a Guard of Honour salute as a private ambulance leaves carrying one of the victims from the Clutha Vaults pub in Glasgow.
The wreckage of the police three-tonne Eurocopter is taken away by lorry after being lifted from the Clutha Vaults in Glasgow(Image: PA)
Backwoods Music Festival at Mulberry Mountain
A tour riding helicopter trip has ended tragically when it crashed killing three people with only one survivor on Sunday June 2nd 2019. Four people were on the helicopter when it crashed, they have been identified as Chuck Dixon, Marco Ornelas and Sarah Hill. Zachariah Petersen, of Omaha, was flown to a Tulsa, Oklahoma hospital with several broken bones and internal injuries and is listed as in critical condition, Dixon was the pilot, while Ornelas, Hill and Petersen were passengers.
Backwoods at Mulberry Mountain is an electronic music festival in Ozark, Arkansas. Started in 2008, the festival is about big sounds and big time fun.
Curating a lineup that balances live acts and DJs, Backwoods features everything from EDM to jam bands and bluegrass.
Set in the forest, the festival is a totally immersive experience, with art installations and chill out spots throughout the site. KFSM said the helicopter was giving a tour ride at the Backwoods Music Festival at Mulberry Mountain when it crashed. Sheriff Boen said the pilot was due back about 7 p.m. Sunday, but did not show up as scheduled. Investigators found the wreckage around 8:00 p.m. The helicopter crashed somewhere in the Ozark National Forest not far from the landing site. It's from Tulsa County Helicopters and was being used to give customers a bird's eye view festival. Mulberry Mountain is about an hour southeast of Fayetteville. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash.
Image Left - These are the three that lost their lives: Marco Ornelas (GoFundMe) Sarah Hill (GoFundMe) Chuck Dixon Pilot (GoFundMe) The Robinson R44 helicopter was carrying four passengers who were sightseeing and wanted to get an aerial view of the music festival. Authorities were alerted when the pilot, who was due back around 7 pm, did not show up as scheduled.
Zachariah Petersen was the only survivor of the crash. Pilot Chuck Dixon of Tulsa; Sarah Hill of Austin, Texas; and Marco Ornelas of Mexico died in the crash, said Franklin County Sheriff Anthony Boen. The lone survivor, Zachary Peterson of Omaha, Neb., was airlifted to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa and was in critical condition as of Monday afternoon.
A helicopter on Monday hovers close to the site of Sunday’s fatal crash near Mulberry Mountain.
Special to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - This is a submitted photo from Anastasia Marie Graham - A wrecked Tulsa County Helicopter is visible on the back of a flatbed trailer on Arkansas 23 Thursday, June 6, 2019, in Franklin County. Three people were killed and one was injured in the helicopter crash near Mulberry Mountain north of Ozark Sunday, June 2, 2019 according to officials.
A Crag overlooking the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas