Hughes down in Kent [Archive]

headsethair

19th Jul 2003, 19:03

A Hughes 500 hired from Biggin Hill Helicopters is confirmed as the one that crashed nr Sevenoaks at about 1000 local. It took off from BH. 3 on board. No survivors.

Autorotate

19th Jul 2003, 19:22

Headsethair - was it a 500 or another 300. Just curious as the report said a three seater.

:E

Wedge

19th Jul 2003, 19:29

BBC teletext says Hughes 500.

Slotty

19th Jul 2003, 20:00

Was it from BHH??

RIP

Andrew Sinclair

19th Jul 2003, 20:16

Very sad news, just heard it on Radio 2 one o'clock news

Helicopter Crash Near Biggin Hil (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3079975.stm)

Three lives are reported lost in the accident.

autosync

19th Jul 2003, 23:36

Just taken from Sky News

'COPTER CRASH KILLS THREE

Three people were killed when their helicopter crashed in a field, police said.

The aircraft came down in at Knockholt, near Sevenoaks, Kent, shortly before 10am.

The Hughes 500 helicopter had taken off from Biggin Hill airport.

A Kent Police spokeswoman said there were no survivors on board.

It was not yet known where the helicopter was flying to.

A spokesman for Biggin Hill Helicopters said the helicopter had three people on board and was hired from them.

He said it was due to return later without landing anywhere but declined to give any further details.

A Kent Police spokeswoman later said that officers were still at the scene.

She said she could not confirm any more details about the incident until all next of kin of the deceased had been informed.

Officials from the Air Accidents Investigations Bureau were sent to the scene to help determine the cause of the crash, a Department of Transport spokesman said.

DBChopper

20th Jul 2003, 05:38

Strangely, as that is so close to home for me it seems even worse.

My deepest condolences to friends and family of the deceased and all those at BHH. Thoughts too, to the highly professional controllers at Biggin to whom it must also have been a great shock.

DBChopper

newswatcher

21st Jul 2003, 16:14

The names have been released as Mark Price, 39, who was with his wife Jean, 33, and their 14-month-old son Samuel.

Very sad that one so young involved.

Autorotate

21st Jul 2003, 16:47

To those at BHH who visit this site condolences on your loss and our thoughts are with you from this end of the world.

:E

Heliport

21st Jul 2003, 17:58

from the BBC ~~

The three victims of a helicopter crash in Kent were a husband and wife who were travelling with their baby son, police have said.
Mark Price, 39, was with his wife Jean, 33, and their 14-month-old son Samuel when their helicopter crashed in a field shortly after take-off.
The Hughes 500 aircraft came down in Cudham Lane South, at Knockholt, near Sevenoaks, Kent, at about 0950 BST.
The family were from Chessington, in Surrey, a police spokesman said.
On Saturday the police said there were no survivors on board the helicopter, which had taken off from nearby Biggin Hill airport.
Emergency services were called to the scene within minutes after being alerted by a member of the public who witnessed the crash.
A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the couple and their son were pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor who arrived by air ambulance.

ali250

22nd Jul 2003, 05:16

As Chief Pilot for BHH I have been criticised by the press for not making a statement over this matter. As you will recall from a previous thread this is not the first time I’ve been criticised by them! Until the pilot has been formerly identified I have been asked not to comment.

I would like to add the following.

Your very kind words have been very much appreciated by everyone here at BHH. I will pass on your kind words to the pilots family.

Thank you all.

Bill Lowry

Steve Davies

22nd Jul 2003, 06:28

Bill,

Although we know eachother and I am therefore bound to be biased, in my journalistic opinion I think that you have acted completely within the bounds of good taste and respect for the victim's families.

Thoughts and prayers with the young family, their friends and relatives and all at BHH.

Flying Lawyer

22nd Jul 2003, 07:21

Bill

Very wise after your recent unpleasant (and unfair) experience at the hands of the Press!

FL

Dantruck

22nd Jul 2003, 17:34

As you probably know, you are under no obligation to make any kind of statement to the press at this or any other time. Any 'criticism' or pressure you are experiencing is just bull and bluster. Ignore it.

If any member of the media is hassling you or your staff too much feel free to refer them to me. As a journalist I will be happy to remind them they have no rights to a statement whatsoever.

Good luck in dealing with what must be a very difficult situation.

Dan Coughlan