View Full Version : Gazelle down in NI.
Paracab
22nd Dec 2003, 23:15
Breaking news on Sky - Two dead in a military helicopter crash in the Londonderry area - no further at the mo, anyone know anything ?
treadigraph
22nd Dec 2003, 23:30
A Gazelle.
From the BBC...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3341521.stm
Just found this news thread..
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1116643,00.html
Spot 4
22nd Dec 2003, 23:51
Single engined hover over the city can be an unforgiving place to be, and this sad event strengthens the requirement for the likes of Twin Squirrel to complete their thankless task in.
It is likley that I have lost the object of much crewroom banter today and I would suggest we keep the pprune air accident investigation theories to a minimum, and thank your god that if people had to die, it wasnt us.
The names I guess will come when they are good and ready, but there are a lot of good guys and girls flying the floppy in NI.
Rest in Peace
Bill O'Average
23rd Dec 2003, 00:14
Agreed spot 4, lets keep the 'theories' away.
Heart felt sympathies. Nowt else I can say.
northernmonkey
23rd Dec 2003, 00:28
Gutted, utterly crap news, just in time for Christmas too
Families and friend sin my thought.
RIP guys
Heliport
23rd Dec 2003, 01:05
Update from BBC NEWS Two dead in helicopter crash[/b]
Two soldiers have been killed after a British army helicopter made a forced landing in Londonderry.
An army spokesman confirmed that a Gazelle helicopter had "gone down" near the City of Derry rugby club in Gransha.
"We are ruling out terrorism activity as a potential cause," he said.
The two soldiers were the only people on board.
An Army spokesman confirmed the two deaths.
The helicopter had been on a routine flight from Omagh in County Tyrone, nearly 40 miles away. It had been destined for Ballykelly Army base. It had taken off from Lisanelly Barracks in the town about 15 minutes earlier.
It had been accompanied by a Puma helicopter.
An eyewitness, John Arbuckle, said: "You wouldn't have knew it was a helicopter, there was military papers and that floating about in the field.
The Gazelle helicopter is from 5 Regiment Army Air Corps, based at Aldergrove in County Antrim.
Full report (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3341521.stm)
Update from BBC NEWS [quote]Two dead in helicopter crash[/b]
Two soldiers have been killed after a British army helicopter made a forced landing in Londonderry.
An army spokesman confirmed that a Gazelle helicopter had "gone down" near the City of Derry rugby club in Gransha.
"We are ruling out terrorism activity as a potential cause," he said.
The two soldiers were the only people on board.
An Army spokesman confirmed the two deaths.
The helicopter had been on a routine flight from Omagh in County Tyrone, nearly 40 miles away. It had been destined for Ballykelly Army base. It had taken off from Lisanelly Barracks in the town about 15 minutes earlier.
It had been accompanied by a Puma helicopter.
An eyewitness, John Arbuckle, said: "You wouldn't have knew it was a helicopter, there was military papers and that floating about in the field.
The Gazelle helicopter is from 5 Regiment Army Air Corps, based at Aldergrove in County Antrim.
Full report (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3341521.stm)
Paddy Don't Surf
23rd Dec 2003, 01:47
Deepest, deepest sympathies to the families of those involved. Watched BBC NI news tonight (thanks to the marvels of digital TV) and it brought tears to my eyes.
Words can't express my sorrow, I don't even know the names but it's almost undoubtedly friends and/or colleagues ... my thoughts are with you.
:( :{
claire mc cosker
23rd Dec 2003, 02:29
Firstly I would like to pass on my sympathies to those guys familes in the gazelle today
I happened to be flying in londonderry today just before it happened.
Air traffic called a company helicopter to tell them as no mayday was put out he said that he had seen them in a spiral dive towards the ground from about 700 feet
I drove past the scene a little later and saw all of the emergency services it really did bring a tear to my eye.
Just before christmas too.
R.I.P
Governormalfunction
23rd Dec 2003, 02:30
RIP. There's nothing more to say.
Bleeb-range
23rd Dec 2003, 03:14
My thoughts are with the families and friends of the crew especially at this time of the year. Only 4 days after attending the funeral of another aviator and friend.
RIP
Deepest sympathies to the families. Ghastly event to happen just before Christmas, too. My thoughts to everybody, including their friends and colleagues....
MOSTAFA
23rd Dec 2003, 03:35
Deepest sympathies to the famillies of those involved. RIP
Brian Dixon
23rd Dec 2003, 03:59
Terrible, terrible news.
My deepest condolences to the families and friends of those lost.
RIP
Jackonicko
23rd Dec 2003, 04:00
While it would obviously wrong to engage in pointless speculation, the observation that: "Single engined hover over the city can be an unforgiving place to be, and this sad event strengthens the requirement for the likes of Twin Squirrel to complete their thankless task" would seem to be entirely sensible and in no way objectionable. Who knows, perhaps even this crew would regard a call for improved equipment or procedures as being 'something good' to have come out of what was obviously a dreadful and tragic event.
I can only hope that my profession deal with this with a little more sense and sensitivity than we sometimes do.
Condolences to their friends and family.
Shackman
23rd Dec 2003, 04:37
Words are never enough, but my sympathies to family, friends and colleagues of the crew.
treadigraph
23rd Dec 2003, 05:19
Damn. The BBC report went from probable to definite. So infinitely sad...
Treadders
NVG_CAT3_retd
23rd Dec 2003, 06:23
A sad day indeed. Thoughts go out to the families and friends of the crew.
Bill O'Average
23rd Dec 2003, 07:33
And we had such a good record this year. I was hoping this would be one of the first with no fatalities.
Crap, just crap.
Again, deepest to all involved.
Out.
WE Branch Fanatic
23rd Dec 2003, 07:44
Like everyone else, all I can do is offer my sympathy and condolences of the famillies and friends of those involved, and also their colleagues.
This sort of news is always upsetting to hear, but is particularly sad at this time of year.
NURSE
23rd Dec 2003, 08:32
my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the 2 people killed.
aytoo
23rd Dec 2003, 13:16
There is never a good time to read news like this, but how particularly poignant at this time of year.
I can only echo the sentiments above, and convey our sympathies to the families.
There but for the grace....
Mike Bowl
23rd Dec 2003, 16:42
Nothing more I can add to the many condolances already posted.
To the families and friends my deepest sympathy.
As a Former 655 member i wish all of those in 665 the best and hope they can get through this difficult time.
More information from those in the know please as the national news seems to have forgotten this tragic event already.
RIP:(
CAC Runaway
23rd Dec 2003, 17:12
RIP guys.
When/if the names are made public can someone post them on here as there are alot of people on here with mates over there.
A/Tpr Cooper
23rd Dec 2003, 17:44
A sad day. Two more aviators "VMC on top".
The thoughts of the Cooper family are with those of the family and friends of two who were lost.
I trust that the Jock Nag will swing when the time is right, I'm sure that the whoever was involved would not want festivities to cease.
Rats Naks
23rd Dec 2003, 17:47
My deepest sympathies to all those freinds and families invovled in this tragic event, our thoughts are with you.
RIP guys.
A very sad day indeed, my sincere thoughts go to the families involved. It is ironic that my brother in law was killed in a Lynx crash in Bosnia 5 years ago to the day !!!!
Sad times but at least they where doing something they loved.
Enuff Said
Hog
Ron Fenest
23rd Dec 2003, 19:27
A good good friend is lost, I'm inconsolable..my thoughts are truly with his wife and children..christmas is cancelled for me. Also my heartfelt sympathies go out to the family of the young officer whose life has been cruely taken.
Sleep well mate
This really really sucks
Authen
23rd Dec 2003, 20:42
:(
Very sad news indeed, my heart felt sympathy to friends and family at this sad time. RIP chaps.
Top Bunk Tester
23rd Dec 2003, 20:58
Names now released on DefenseNet
RIP Guys
Paddy Don't Surf
23rd Dec 2003, 21:04
The names have now been released at;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3342373.stm
The Ac Comd was Sergeant Simon Bennett, 35, a married father-of- three from Telford in Shropshire.
The pilot was Captain Andrew Nicoll, 27, who was single and from Grantham in Lincolnshire.
RIP
I have a photo of Si Bennett flying a Squirrel, msg or email if you want a copy. Can't figure out how to post it on this topic.
:{ :sad: :{
NURSE
23rd Dec 2003, 21:05
http://www.utv.co.uk/newsroom/indepth.asp?pt=n&id=40842
The names released today are
Capt Andrew Nicoll
SGT Simon Bennett
God Bless You and Your loved ones
May you rest in Peace
X-QUORK
23rd Dec 2003, 21:15
Condolences to the family,friends and fellow squadron members of the crew - my thoughts are with you.
I must also add that the UTV report on the link posted by NURSE contains some extremely cheap and insensitive political soundbites from the local SDLP councillor....he should be bloody well ashamed of himself.:mad:
Paddy Don't Surf
23rd Dec 2003, 21:21
X-QUORK
What do you expect? The SDLP/Sinn Fein can be relied upon to try to make political mileage from anything like this.
I await the findings of the investigation with trepidation. There but for the grace of [insert deity here] go I.
[edited because my hands are shaking too much to type properly]
EmeraldToilet
23rd Dec 2003, 21:52
To echo so many others sentiments,
Rest Peacefully.
ZH875
23rd Dec 2003, 23:11
Deepest Condolences to all affected families.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning...
.....We Will Remember Them.
Time Out
3rd Jan 2004, 10:58
Mechanical Failure the Cause of Copter Crash
Jan 2 2004
A HELICOPTER crash in which two Army pilots were killed outside Londonderry last month was caused by mechanical failure, it emerged yesterday.
The Gazelle aircraft came down in a field near City of Derry Rugby Club, in Gransha, on December 22.
The two pilots, 27-yearold Captain Andrew Nicoll, from Grantham in Lincolnshire and Sergeant Simon Bennett, 35, a married father-of-three from Telford in Shropshire, were killed instantly.
The Gazelle had been on a routine flight from Omagh in Co Tyrone, nearly 40 miles from the crash scene, and was destined for Ballykelly Army base.
The initial investigation has been completed but a full report on the crash is not expected until later this year.
It is understood the report has blamed mechanical failure for the crash.
The two soldiers, who were part of 5 Regiment Army Air Corps, will be buried in England later this month.
Eyewitnesses described the aircraft as "spiralling out of control".
Investigators spent several days examining the wreckage at the scene before moving it to England for further examination.
They also looked at air traffic control tapes from nearby City of Derry Airport to try to establish what happened in the moments before the crash.
An Army spokesman said they would not be commenting until the full report has been completed.
The Gazelle's primary role is observation and reconnaissance.
It is also used in a wide variety of supporting roles.
More than 1,000 Gazelles are in service with the armed forces and civil aviation organisations throughout the world.
icnorthernireland.icnetwork.co.uk/news (http://icnorthernireland.icnetwork.co.uk/news/local/content_objectid=13774306_method=full_siteid=91603_headline=-Mechanical-Failure-the-Cause-of-Copter-Crash-name_page.html)
It was debatable whether to post this, as the vague comments that the information had "emerged yesterday" and that "it is understood" have no source cited.
Debbie818
22nd Jan 2004, 23:57
:{ I am the wife of Sgt Simon Bennett the pilot who was killed in the Gazelle helicopter crash on 22/12/03 in NI. I noticed from reading the messages that 'Paddy Don't Surf' has a picture of Simon flying in Squirrel. Is there any chance you could send me a copy for the kids. Much appreciated. Thanks.
Debbie
I hope you don't mind, but I've removed your address because I'm worried about it being posted on a public forum. I'm one of the forum moderators - I've made a note of your address and I'll send the photograph on to you as soon as it's available.
I know I'm speaking for all members of this forum when I express my heartfelt sympathy to you and your children. Loss of life is always sad but when a helicopter pilot loses his life in an accident we feel it all the more because, whether or not we knew Simon personally, he was one of us.
Heliport
Will 'Paddy Don't Surf' or anyone else with a photograph of Simon please contact me asap.
Thanks.
ShyTorque
23rd Jan 2004, 00:29
Mrs Bennett (Debbie?),
Please allow me, in common with all the other folk posting on the forum, offer my very sincere condolences on your tragic loss.
I also hope you get your photo and I'm sure you will, but I think it's perhaps not a good idea to post your personal address on the website. Perhaps better to edit it out; you can always communicate via a private message.
Best regards, from an ex-RAF NI pilot.
Shyt
Heliport
23rd Jan 2004, 06:10
I'm pleased to report that 'Paddy Don't Surf' has a number of photographs of Simon which will be sent to Debbie.
Heliport