Heliport
13th Feb 2004, 03:47
Western Morning News 18:00 - 12 February 2004
Hundreds of people were left without electricity after a Royal Navy helicopter clipped power lines during a training flight. People living in the Brendon area on Exmoor were affected in the incident on Monday involving a Sea King helicopter from RNAS Yeovilton.
The helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing after crashing into power lines in the Cheriton Valley.
Homes around the remote area instantly lost power when the Sea King, which was on a low level flight training exercise, hit the power lines stretching across the valley.
Nearby resident at Combe Park, Lynne Guerney, said: "The pilot must have been incredibly lucky to manage to get out of the valley."
A spokesman for RNAS Yeovilton said: "We do not know exactly what happened and an investigation will be taking place."
None of the crew was hurt but homes in the Brendon area of Exmoor were affected and a second Sea King was sent to the scene to assess the damage to the aircraft.
A Royal Navy spokesman said a full investigation would be held into the incident and attempts were being made yesterday to recover the 10-ton Sea King.
Hundreds of people were left without electricity after a Royal Navy helicopter clipped power lines during a training flight. People living in the Brendon area on Exmoor were affected in the incident on Monday involving a Sea King helicopter from RNAS Yeovilton.
The helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing after crashing into power lines in the Cheriton Valley.
Homes around the remote area instantly lost power when the Sea King, which was on a low level flight training exercise, hit the power lines stretching across the valley.
Nearby resident at Combe Park, Lynne Guerney, said: "The pilot must have been incredibly lucky to manage to get out of the valley."
A spokesman for RNAS Yeovilton said: "We do not know exactly what happened and an investigation will be taking place."
None of the crew was hurt but homes in the Brendon area of Exmoor were affected and a second Sea King was sent to the scene to assess the damage to the aircraft.
A Royal Navy spokesman said a full investigation would be held into the incident and attempts were being made yesterday to recover the 10-ton Sea King.