Helicopter crashes in Reading on banks of River Thames - Get Reading
Helicopter crashes in Reading on banks of River Thames
Two helicopter pilots were “extremely lucky” to escape from an aircraft crash with minor injuries.
The private two-seater helicopter lost control over The Warren in Caversham and landed its side at the banks of the River Thames at 5.48pm on Friday, March 24.
Crew manager Paul Jones, the on duty officer for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) said the two pilots managed to crawl out of the top of the helicopter before emergency services arrived.
Teams were called from Dee Road, Caversham Road, Wokingham Road and Whitley Wood fire stations, as well as a specialist unit from Maidenhead.
Mr Jones said: "South Central Ambulance Service was close behind us when we arrived.
"They checked two people over at the scene who had minor injuries."
When Mr Jones spoke to getreading he said the pair were "extremely lucky to escape" and it did not appear either would have to be taken to hospital.
He added both pilots decided to leave the helicopter before emergency services arrived as there was "a lot of fuel on board" and they were concerned there would be a fire.
Fortunately the vehicle was made safe and no fire started.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/317326...icopter-crash/
Pilots ‘extremely lucky’ after Reading helicopter crash as witnesses describe aircraft plummeting from sky ‘in a spin’
TWO men have had an “extremely lucky” escape after their helicopter dramatically crashed next to the River Thames in Reading.
Local firefighters said both men inside the aircraft managed to clamber out before emergency services arrived.
Witnesses told of seeing one of them give a “thumbs up” to show they were okay.
But crew manager Paul Jones, of Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS), told GetReading the pair were “extremely lucky to escape”.
Fortunately, he said the chopper did not catch fire despite there being “a lot of fuel on board”, and both men were treated at the scene for minor injuries but did not need hospital treatment.
Reading helicopter crash: Aircraft crashes near River Thames after going into a spin | London Evening Standard
Reading helicopter crash: Aircraft crashes near River Thames after going into a spin
A witness said: "It flew over quite low and circled the playing field, it then went towards the river and flew along it.
"It then started to look like it was coming into land, it then went below the tree line but we could see it go into a spin, next we heard a loud thud.
"We ran over and saw it was laying on its side, it was on the opposite side of the river to us but we could see someone over there and shouted if everyone got out ok, they gave us a thumbs up.
Luckily there was no fire."
The witness, who was at his son's football training at the time, thought the pilot was "showing off".
He said: "To be honest all those watching thought the pilot was showing off but naturally that was just an assumption.