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| London helicopter crash: Two die in Vauxhall crane accident | London helicopter crash: Two die in Vauxhall crane accident |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two people were killed and 12 were hurt when a helicopter crashed into a crane on a building in central London. | Two people were killed and 12 were hurt when a helicopter crashed into a crane on a building in central London. |
| The helicopter hit the crane on top of The Tower, One St George Wharf beside the Thames at about 08:00 GMT. | The helicopter hit the crane on top of The Tower, One St George Wharf beside the Thames at about 08:00 GMT. |
| Cars and two buildings caught fire after the burning wreckage fell into Wandsworth Road in South Lambeth. Eighty firefighters tackled the blaze. | Cars and two buildings caught fire after the burning wreckage fell into Wandsworth Road in South Lambeth. Eighty firefighters tackled the blaze. |
| The pilot, Capt Pete Barnes from charter firm Rotormotion, was killed, along with a person on the ground. | |
| Mr Barnes, 50 and from near Reading, Berkshire, had asked to be diverted to a nearby heliport because of bad weather. | |
| Metropolitan Police Commander Neil Basu told BBC News it was "miraculous" the crash was not much worse. | Metropolitan Police Commander Neil Basu told BBC News it was "miraculous" the crash was not much worse. |
| Action movies | |
| Five people were taken to hospital. One had a broken leg and the others had minor injuries. Seven people were treated at the scene. | Five people were taken to hospital. One had a broken leg and the others had minor injuries. Seven people were treated at the scene. |
| It is thought some of the injured were hit by falling debris. | It is thought some of the injured were hit by falling debris. |
| The Civil Aviation Authority said a warning about the crane involved in the crash had been issued to pilots in October and again on 7 January. | The Civil Aviation Authority said a warning about the crane involved in the crash had been issued to pilots in October and again on 7 January. |
| Part of the crane was left hanging from the side of the residential building, which is still under construction. | Part of the crane was left hanging from the side of the residential building, which is still under construction. |
| A spokeswoman for Berkeley Homes, the company behind the St George Wharf development, said she would not speculate if a light on the crane, which is meant to be on 24 hours to alert pilots, was on at time of the crash. | A spokeswoman for Berkeley Homes, the company behind the St George Wharf development, said she would not speculate if a light on the crane, which is meant to be on 24 hours to alert pilots, was on at time of the crash. |
| Residents have raised complaints about it not being lit. | Residents have raised complaints about it not being lit. |
| London Fire Brigade said part of the tail section of the helicopter landed on roof of the building and the main section landed in Wandsworth Road, hitting two cars. The fire from the helicopter ignited two buildings. | London Fire Brigade said part of the tail section of the helicopter landed on roof of the building and the main section landed in Wandsworth Road, hitting two cars. The fire from the helicopter ignited two buildings. |
| Jon Horne, chief executive of Redhill Aerodrome Ventures, said the helicopter had left Redhill in Surrey ay 07:35 on a scheduled flight to Elstree in Hertfordshire. | Jon Horne, chief executive of Redhill Aerodrome Ventures, said the helicopter had left Redhill in Surrey ay 07:35 on a scheduled flight to Elstree in Hertfordshire. |
| He said it was an Agusta 109, a lightweight, twin-engine helicopter, and that just the pilot was on board when it departed Redhill. | He said it was an Agusta 109, a lightweight, twin-engine helicopter, and that just the pilot was on board when it departed Redhill. |
| Mr Horne said: "We believe it was unable to land in Elstree and was diverting to an alternate location. The next information we had was following the crash in south London." | |
| 'Enormous bang' | |
| Mr Barnes is understood to have piloted helicopters in action scenes for films Die Another Day, Tomb Raider II and Saving Private Ryan. | Mr Barnes is understood to have piloted helicopters in action scenes for films Die Another Day, Tomb Raider II and Saving Private Ryan. |
| According to his LinkedIn profile he had also operated flights for the BBC and ITN during the Athens and London Olympics. | According to his LinkedIn profile he had also operated flights for the BBC and ITN during the Athens and London Olympics. |
| Capt Philip Amadeus, managing director at Rotormotion, said Mr Barnes was a highly qualified commercial pilot with more than 12,000 flying hours. He had worked for the firm for more than 15 years. | |
| Mr Amadeus said: "We are devastated by the loss of a highly valued colleague and very dear friend. Our thoughts and condolences are with Peter's wife and children. | |
| "His death is a very great loss to the aviation community and Rotormotion." | |
| The incident caused gridlock with all approaches to the Vauxhall Cross one way system closed at the height of the rush hour and Vauxhall Tube station and railway station closed, though the stations have since reopened. | The incident caused gridlock with all approaches to the Vauxhall Cross one way system closed at the height of the rush hour and Vauxhall Tube station and railway station closed, though the stations have since reopened. |
| London Fire Brigade said more than 50 other firefighters were at St George's Wharf to secure the damaged crane. | London Fire Brigade said more than 50 other firefighters were at St George's Wharf to secure the damaged crane. |
| The BBC weather centre said weather observations at the time of the crash showed very low cloud but not thick fog. The nearest observation site was London City Airport which at 08:00 reported 700m visibility with broken cloud at a height of 100ft. | The BBC weather centre said weather observations at the time of the crash showed very low cloud but not thick fog. The nearest observation site was London City Airport which at 08:00 reported 700m visibility with broken cloud at a height of 100ft. |
| NATS, which runs air traffic control across the UK, said the pilot had been receiving assistance earlier in the flight but not at the time of the crash. | NATS, which runs air traffic control across the UK, said the pilot had been receiving assistance earlier in the flight but not at the time of the crash. |
| Julian Firth, who is leading a team from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigating the crash, said the wreckage would be taken to its site at Farnborough, Hampshire. | Julian Firth, who is leading a team from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigating the crash, said the wreckage would be taken to its site at Farnborough, Hampshire. |
| He said it would take several months to produce a full report into the incident. | He said it would take several months to produce a full report into the incident. |
| An RNLI lifeboat was initially sent to search the Thames near the crash scene following a request from London Heliport after it lost contact with the aircraft. | An RNLI lifeboat was initially sent to search the Thames near the crash scene following a request from London Heliport after it lost contact with the aircraft. |
| Fire brigade station manager Bruce Grain said crews arrived at the scene in four minutes. | Fire brigade station manager Bruce Grain said crews arrived at the scene in four minutes. |
| He said the helicopter fell into Wandsworth Road, hitting various vehicles and bursting into flames and there were also fires in nearby buildings. | He said the helicopter fell into Wandsworth Road, hitting various vehicles and bursting into flames and there were also fires in nearby buildings. |
| A man was rescued from a burning car by firefighters. | A man was rescued from a burning car by firefighters. |
| Wandsworth Road was blocked by the burning wreckage and aviation fuel and the side of a building also caught fire. | Wandsworth Road was blocked by the burning wreckage and aviation fuel and the side of a building also caught fire. |
| A motorcycle was also lying on its side in the road where it was abandoned. | A motorcycle was also lying on its side in the road where it was abandoned. |
| Witness Michael Krumstets said: "I was on my way to work this morning with my flatmate when the helicopter crashed right next to us. | Witness Michael Krumstets said: "I was on my way to work this morning with my flatmate when the helicopter crashed right next to us. |
| "We saw the helicopter clip the crane and heard a loud crack, it started spinning out of control and directly towards us. It took just seconds for this to happen. | "We saw the helicopter clip the crane and heard a loud crack, it started spinning out of control and directly towards us. It took just seconds for this to happen. |
| "We ran as it fell towards us. We got away just in time. | "We ran as it fell towards us. We got away just in time. |
| "We were just feet away when it hit the ground and exploded." | "We were just feet away when it hit the ground and exploded." |
| 'People screaming' | 'People screaming' |
| Mark Osbourne, from a bike shop near the scene, said he ran to try to help the injured. | Mark Osbourne, from a bike shop near the scene, said he ran to try to help the injured. |
| "There was lots of wreckage and fire," he said. | "There was lots of wreckage and fire," he said. |
| "I saw a woman on a motorcycle that must have missed the carnage by six feet. | "I saw a woman on a motorcycle that must have missed the carnage by six feet. |
| "It felt like a war movie, it was surreal." | "It felt like a war movie, it was surreal." |
| Craig Dunne, who was walking to work at the time of the accident, said: "When I got to the end of the road there was a massive explosion and the crane is obviously in pieces. | Craig Dunne, who was walking to work at the time of the accident, said: "When I got to the end of the road there was a massive explosion and the crane is obviously in pieces. |
| Canadian Virginia Bennett, who lives in one of the residential apartments facing the River Thames, was getting ready to take her dog Abby for a walk when the morning calm was shattered by "the noise of metal crashing". | Canadian Virginia Bennett, who lives in one of the residential apartments facing the River Thames, was getting ready to take her dog Abby for a walk when the morning calm was shattered by "the noise of metal crashing". |
| She said: "It sounded like a big car crash. We are not on the roadside so that didn't make sense. | She said: "It sounded like a big car crash. We are not on the roadside so that didn't make sense. |
| "I opened the curtain and saw what appeared [to be] big pieces [of] metal falling. | "I opened the curtain and saw what appeared [to be] big pieces [of] metal falling. |
| "I went out to the living room and looked out and could see the black smoke. Then my husband and I realised that the top of the crane was gone." | "I went out to the living room and looked out and could see the black smoke. Then my husband and I realised that the top of the crane was gone." |
| "And I looked to the left-hand side and there were cars - three cars on fire - people screaming, shouting and hollering, and the next thing I know there are police, ambulances and everything everywhere and people going crazy. It's madness - absolute madness." | "And I looked to the left-hand side and there were cars - three cars on fire - people screaming, shouting and hollering, and the next thing I know there are police, ambulances and everything everywhere and people going crazy. It's madness - absolute madness." |
| Mark Correll was cycling along Wandsworth Road when debris from the crash started falling around him. | Mark Correll was cycling along Wandsworth Road when debris from the crash started falling around him. |
| "I heard a massive explosion and looked up to see debris falling everywhere from the sky," he said. | "I heard a massive explosion and looked up to see debris falling everywhere from the sky," he said. |
| "I didn't hang around as there was massive debris falling intermittently and if anything had hit me I would have been killed. | "I didn't hang around as there was massive debris falling intermittently and if anything had hit me I would have been killed. |
| "My first instinct was to dodge the debris - I thought the building was going to collapse. | "My first instinct was to dodge the debris - I thought the building was going to collapse. |
| "It was easily the most frightening thing I have ever witnessed." | "It was easily the most frightening thing I have ever witnessed." |
| Ex-BBC producer Paul Ferguson said the helicopter "plummeted straight into the ground". | Ex-BBC producer Paul Ferguson said the helicopter "plummeted straight into the ground". |
| He said the building the helicopter hit was "shrouded in mist". | He said the building the helicopter hit was "shrouded in mist". |
| Market worker Andrew Ross said: "I heard a loud bang and I saw this helicopter falling out of the sky. | Market worker Andrew Ross said: "I heard a loud bang and I saw this helicopter falling out of the sky. |
| "(There was) an orange glow and lots of smoke coming up. | "(There was) an orange glow and lots of smoke coming up. |
| "It was flying below cloud cover - it was still foggy and a little bit dark." | "It was flying below cloud cover - it was still foggy and a little bit dark." |
| Michael Gavin, who was waiting for a train on a platform at Vauxhall station, said: "I heard the bang - the top of the crane was obscured by the fog so I did not see the impact but I did see the helicopter falling to the ground along with pieces of the crane, then the long plume of smoke from there. | Michael Gavin, who was waiting for a train on a platform at Vauxhall station, said: "I heard the bang - the top of the crane was obscured by the fog so I did not see the impact but I did see the helicopter falling to the ground along with pieces of the crane, then the long plume of smoke from there. |
| "It was really quite shocking. There was a group of us on the platform waiting, we could not see where it hit because it was blocked by a wall at the end of the station. | "It was really quite shocking. There was a group of us on the platform waiting, we could not see where it hit because it was blocked by a wall at the end of the station. |
| "There were a lot of worried people around." | "There were a lot of worried people around." |
| Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough, heard an "enormous bang" as she walked towards Vauxhall Tube before seeing "clouds of black smoke". | Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough, heard an "enormous bang" as she walked towards Vauxhall Tube before seeing "clouds of black smoke". |
| CLICKABLE | CLICKABLE |
| Damaged crane | Damaged crane |
| Wandsworth Road | Wandsworth Road |
| Vauxhall | Vauxhall |
Damaged crane | Damaged crane |
| The helicopter hit a crane near St George Wharf Tower. The building was shrouded in mist. | The helicopter hit a crane near St George Wharf Tower. The building was shrouded in mist. |
Wandsworth Road | Wandsworth Road |
| The helicopter crashed on Wandsworth Road close to New Covent Garden Flower market. Two people have been killed and nine others injured, police report. | The helicopter crashed on Wandsworth Road close to New Covent Garden Flower market. Two people have been killed and nine others injured, police report. |
Vauxhall | Vauxhall |
| This image captured by Victor Jimenez near Vauxhall Station showed a pall of smoke rising above the crash site just after 8:00 am. | This image captured by Victor Jimenez near Vauxhall Station showed a pall of smoke rising above the crash site just after 8:00 am. |
| Quinn Murray, who was cycling when he saw the crash, said: "I saw the helicopter hit the top of the crane and come down just to the left of the station. | Quinn Murray, who was cycling when he saw the crash, said: "I saw the helicopter hit the top of the crane and come down just to the left of the station. |
| "There was quite a large amount of fire and a huge smoke cloud. It wasn't on the road, but into a building site where they are building the new Nine Elms area." | "There was quite a large amount of fire and a huge smoke cloud. It wasn't on the road, but into a building site where they are building the new Nine Elms area." |
| Erin Rogers, who was waiting at a bus stop outside Vauxhall station, said: "It was a bit surreal actually. I just had a coffee in my hand, I looked up, heard a bang and saw bits of crane debris falling to the floor. | Erin Rogers, who was waiting at a bus stop outside Vauxhall station, said: "It was a bit surreal actually. I just had a coffee in my hand, I looked up, heard a bang and saw bits of crane debris falling to the floor. |
| "Then the helicopter was in flames. The rest of the people at the bus station were looking on going 'What was that?'. | "Then the helicopter was in flames. The rest of the people at the bus station were looking on going 'What was that?'. |
| "It's something I will never forget for a long time." | "It's something I will never forget for a long time." |
| Rigorous controls | Rigorous controls |
| The emergency services were praised for their swift response by Councillor Lib Peck, leader of Lambeth Council. | The emergency services were praised for their swift response by Councillor Lib Peck, leader of Lambeth Council. |
| She said: "I understand that swift action by the fire service may well have saved the life of one of the casualties of the crash. | She said: "I understand that swift action by the fire service may well have saved the life of one of the casualties of the crash. |
| "The safety of Lambeth residents is my major concern and I will be seeking reassurances about the procedures governing helicopter flights." | "The safety of Lambeth residents is my major concern and I will be seeking reassurances about the procedures governing helicopter flights." |
| While visiting the scene, London mayor Boris Johnson said questions would be asked about how the accident happened. | |
| He also said the crane was now secure and would be dealt with soon. | |
| Kate Hoey, Labour MP for Vauxhall, said : "My initial thought was that it might have hit one of the many densely populated tall buildings. To hear it had hit the crane was a relief in some way. | Kate Hoey, Labour MP for Vauxhall, said : "My initial thought was that it might have hit one of the many densely populated tall buildings. To hear it had hit the crane was a relief in some way. |
| "Police said to me that their first fear was it was the police helicopter, however, it had been grounded because of the weather." | "Police said to me that their first fear was it was the police helicopter, however, it had been grounded because of the weather." |
| She told the BBC the rapid increase in the number of tall buildings in London meant more rigorous controls over who can fly where may be needed. | She told the BBC the rapid increase in the number of tall buildings in London meant more rigorous controls over who can fly where may be needed. |
| At Prime Minister's Questions she asked David Cameron for a review of the rules on helicopters flying over central London. | At Prime Minister's Questions she asked David Cameron for a review of the rules on helicopters flying over central London. |
| Mr Cameron said: "She's right that it's not an issue for today but inevitably it's something that has to be carefully looked at." | Mr Cameron said: "She's right that it's not an issue for today but inevitably it's something that has to be carefully looked at." |
| The Civil Aviation Authority said there were 16,374 helicopter flights over London in 2012. It said single-engine craft were required to fly along certain routes, selected to provide safety, and while twin-engine helicopters could operate in wider areas, all were subject to air traffic control clearance. | The Civil Aviation Authority said there were 16,374 helicopter flights over London in 2012. It said single-engine craft were required to fly along certain routes, selected to provide safety, and while twin-engine helicopters could operate in wider areas, all were subject to air traffic control clearance. |
| It said pilots were notified of very tall structures for flight planning purposes, as was the case with the crane involved in the crash. | It said pilots were notified of very tall structures for flight planning purposes, as was the case with the crane involved in the crash. |
| The Met told the BBC there was no suggestion the incident was linked to terrorism. | The Met told the BBC there was no suggestion the incident was linked to terrorism. |
| Are you in Vauxhall? Did you see the crash? Are you a pilot who regularly flies over London? Please send through your experiences, and any pictures and videos you may have captured | Are you in Vauxhall? Did you see the crash? Are you a pilot who regularly flies over London? Please send through your experiences, and any pictures and videos you may have captured |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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