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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. | 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, on 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. | 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 the helicopter had crashed in the middle of Cley Marshes, a bird reserve. | |
| "The incident is very sad," he added. | "The incident is very sad," he added. |
| Brian Egan, who lives near to the site of the crash, said he saw two military aircraft flying in the area at about 18:00 GMT. | |
| "They were flying extremely low and I took some video footage," he said. "About two hours later I heard they had ditched." | |
| 'Training mission' | |
| Michael Girling, who also lives nearby, said he heard the impact of the crash. | |
| "I thought the helicopter had landed on the beach," he said. "It had obviously ditched. It's on a nature reserve." | |
| Brendan Joyce, chief executive officer of Norfolk Wildlife Trust, said: "Our immediate thoughts are for the families of those who sadly lost their lives. | |
| "It is likely the reserve will be closed for at least Wednesday while the incident is investigated." | |
| 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." | 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. | 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). | 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. | 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. |