Police helicopter crashes onto Glasgow pub
While it is conceivable that an engine flameout could have been caused by ingestion or blocking of intakes by a flock/ murmuration of starlings ( they sometimes roost in the city, often on cold clear nights and I have witness murmuration of large numbers in the vicinity of the rail bridge leading to central station ( east of the crash site)
A flameout / bird strike might explain the coughing/ spluttering noise reported by one eye witness or the sparks by another. However, an autorotation to recovery would be second nature for the PIC.
The bird strike theory doesn't explain the rate I'd descent nor loss of control.
A murmuration of starlings can include several thousand birds acting as if it is a single entity flitting rapidly around the sky.
I have encountered occasional multiple bird strike ( flock of starlings?) on departure from EGPH often between 400-800ft. Usually just a few thunks and thankfully nothing through the fans!