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Norfolk helicopter crash: Four people believed to be dead | Norfolk helicopter crash: Four people believed to be dead |
(35 minutes later) | |
Four people are believed to have been killed when a US air force (USAF) helicopter crashed, police have said. | |
The aircraft came down in Cley next the Sea in north Norfolk, off the east coast of England. Emergency services are at the scene with a 1,200ft (400m) area cordoned off. | |
The helicopter is an HH-60G Pave Hawk, based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, a spokesman for the USAF confirmed. | The helicopter is an HH-60G Pave Hawk, based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, a spokesman for the USAF confirmed. |
The aircraft usually carries a four-man crew on board, he said. | The aircraft usually carries a four-man crew on board, he said. |
Police said residents can stay in their homes but pedestrians and motorists are being diverted away as there is live ammunition on board. | |
Six appliances from Norfolk Fire Service are currently in attendance, including four pumps, a water carrier and an environmental protection unit. | Six appliances from Norfolk Fire Service are currently in attendance, including four pumps, a water carrier and an environmental protection unit. |
A spokesman said the first unit arrived at the scene at 19:53 GMT. | A spokesman said the first unit arrived at the scene at 19:53 GMT. |
Richard Kelham, chairman of Cley Parish Council, said he believed the helicopter had crashed in the middle of a bird reserve. | |
"The incident is very sad," he added. | |
The 48th Air Wing of the US Air Force based at RAF Lakenheath tweeted: "We can confirm that one of our HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters was involved in an incident during a training mission outside Cley-Next-The-Sea." | |
It was initially thought the aircraft had ditched in the North Sea. | It was initially thought the aircraft had ditched in the North Sea. |
A spokesman for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution said: "We were asked for three lifeboats to respond. | A spokesman for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution said: "We were asked for three lifeboats to respond. |
"Crews from Wells, Sheringham and Cromer were launched at the request of the coastguard but were stood down when it was confirmed that the aircraft had come down over land." | "Crews from Wells, Sheringham and Cromer were launched at the request of the coastguard but were stood down when it was confirmed that the aircraft had come down over land." |
Pave Hawks are used for combat search and rescue, mainly to recover downed aircrew or other isolated personnel in war zones. | |
The 48th Fighter Wing, also known as the Liberty Wing, is assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). | |
In addition to HH-60G Pave Hawks, it is home to squadrons of F-15 Eagle tactical fighter planes and F-15E Strike Eagle dual-role fighters. |