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Four killed as helicopter crashes in Norfolk Northern Ireland peer Lord Ballyedmond among four killed as helicopter crashes in Norfolk
(about 5 hours later)
Four people have been killed when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in Norfolk. Northern Ireland's richest man and Conservative peer Lord Ballyedmond has been killed alongside three others after the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in Norfolk.
The civil aircraft came down near Gillingham Hall, a large stately home owned by the peer, who was born Edward Haughey.
The cause of the crash has yet to be established and an investigation will be held but fog could have been a factor.The cause of the crash has yet to be established and an investigation will be held but fog could have been a factor.
Emergency services scoured the crash site close to the village of Gillingham, near Beccles, for survivors but everyone on board was killed.Emergency services scoured the crash site close to the village of Gillingham, near Beccles, for survivors but everyone on board was killed.
The accident occurred “near a large stately home in Norfolk”, according to one person close to the scene. A police spokeswoman said that the flight was bound for Northern Ireland. No further details on the identities of the other victims were immediately available.
An ambulance spokesman said: “Sadly four people in the helicopter have died in the crash. Ambulance resources have now been stood down from the scene. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives tonight.” A police spokeswoman said that the flight was bound for Northern Ireland.
Lord Ballyedmond has been confirmed as one of the dead An ambulance spokesman said: “Sadly four people in the helicopter have died in the crash. Ambulance resources have now been stood down from the scene. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have lost their lives tonight.”
Norfolk Police were called to the scene at about 7.30pm and located the wreckage after carrying out a search. The helicopter was later confirmed to have been civilian rather than military.Norfolk Police were called to the scene at about 7.30pm and located the wreckage after carrying out a search. The helicopter was later confirmed to have been civilian rather than military.
A spokeswoman said: “Officers were called at about 7.30pm which led to a search of the area resulting in the discovery of the crash siteA spokeswoman said: “Officers were called at about 7.30pm which led to a search of the area resulting in the discovery of the crash site
“The helicopter has been confirmed as a civilian aircraft and the four occupants on board are thought to have died in the crash. Next of kin will be informed before further details of a deceased are released.“ “The helicopter has been confirmed as a civilian aircraft and the four occupants on board are thought to have died in the crash. Next of kin will be informed before further details of a deceased are released."
The Air Accident Investigation Branch said that it had dispatched a team to the crash site, in woodland close to the village church, to begin an investigation.The Air Accident Investigation Branch said that it had dispatched a team to the crash site, in woodland close to the village church, to begin an investigation.
The crash took place just two months after a US military HH-60G Pave Hawk, based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, crashed in Cley next the Sea, Norfolk, during a low level training exercise killing four personnel. Munitions were strewn about the crash site, a nature reserve. The site of that crash is about 45 miles from where last night's fatal accident occurred. Lord Ballyedmond, who was 70, made his estimated £650 million fortune through a successful veterinary pharmaceutical business formed in the 1960s. He also started an air travel business, Haughey Air, which owned a helicopter charter company and the lease to Carlisle Airport, which he acquired in 2000 before selling it on in 2006 after three loss-making years.
He enjoyed a close relationship with Ireland's Albert Reynolds-led government in the early 1990s and in 1993 was appointed as the first chairman of the newly established Irish Aviation Authority.
He was nominated to the Irish senate, the Seanad, in 1994 by Mr Reynolds, and again by Bertie Ahern in 1997. He was made Baron Ballyedmond of Mourne in the County of Down in 2004, sitting in the House of Lords on behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party, before switching to the Conservatives.
Yesterday evening's crash took place just two months after a US military HH-60G Pave Hawk, based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, crashed in Cley next the Sea, Norfolk, during a low level training exercise killing four personnel. Munitions were strewn about the crash site, a nature reserve. The site of that crash is about 45 miles from where last night's fatal accident occurred.
Just a few hours before the crash, the families of 16 men who died in a North Sea helicopter accident called for the operator to be prosecuted after an inquiry found the tragedy could have been avoided. Fourteen oil workers and two crew died when the Bond Super Puma plunged into the water off the Aberdeenshire coast on April 1, 2009. A fatal accident inquiry identified failings in the maintenance of the aircraft's gearbox in the days before the crash.Just a few hours before the crash, the families of 16 men who died in a North Sea helicopter accident called for the operator to be prosecuted after an inquiry found the tragedy could have been avoided. Fourteen oil workers and two crew died when the Bond Super Puma plunged into the water off the Aberdeenshire coast on April 1, 2009. A fatal accident inquiry identified failings in the maintenance of the aircraft's gearbox in the days before the crash.