Puma crash near A303
 

I've removed the original post as it's no longer a rumour. Here's a link to the BBC News article about the Puma accident.
BBC News - Puma military helicopter crash lands in Hampshire

As at 2.15p.m. today, there are no reports on local television news ('South Today') of this incident. Hope it is just a rumour. If it is fact, like Nojima, I hope everyone survived.

err not being daft but your dad has informed the emergency services hasn't he?

And if there has been a crash someone will want a statement from him about what he saw.

BBC News just confirmed crash. No reports of casualties.

Military and civilian emergency services seen in attendance at around 1355

SD (while passing through)

BBC News - Puma military helicopter crashes in Hampshire

Article here.

Seems they are all OK...hope that is accurate.

Only thing that matters

Glad they are all ok, hope it wasn't another Cim Jartner type mishap :ooh::ooh:

Doesn't sound like that incident; a descent that didn't stop appropriately! - very amature eye-witness stated that the a/c was "Weaving and diving with strange noises"
Hate it when others speculate, so I'll keep my thoughts to myself - probably way off the mark anyway!
Really glad the crew walked away - the Force doesn't need any bad Press right now, just as they are restoring some creditability.

Jayteeto,
Can't have been - no QHI involvement:E

Glad all are ok,

I seem to remember reading an AAIB report in the past saying an amature was a better eye witness as they hold no preconceptions as to what is happening. So they actually tell what they saw, not what they thought they saw.
As said he needs to make a statement as a witness.

Thank God the pilot steered away from the orphanage and primary school :ok:

Glad the crew are ok and no-one on ground pranged.

Stay safe y'all.

TTH

I think that they were really nice to consider the JHC flight safety folk and give them a nice stroll over the fields to get to the crash site!:O

Ducking and weaving the irate farmers at the same time? only one I had force land in a crop field, he was not a happy man..

Shame it's not on it's gear, they could tow it back to Odious, been done before :ok:

Don't be ridiculous man, of course it would have run out of gas by the time it got to the A34!!

Convienient too for Crash and Smash who now live just up the road at Boscombe and recently had a Puma on their low loader.

MG,
You overlook one tiny fact..that JHC FS would be in work post 1300. Oxymoron anyone?

Mmmm, very valid point! I stand (lie on the sofa) corrected!

Surprised no-one has posted the regulation "it'll buff-out" joke yet...

Glad the Benson boys are all safe and well.

Looks like it should buff out.....

Don't be silly... You'll obviously need a couple of rolls of bodge tape too....

More photos here...
 

Miraculous escape for crew as military helicopter crashes in field | Mail Online

Much damage evident, tail boom broken, no blades, and carrying an internal auxiliary fuel tank - good to see that the mounting bolts held this time. Interesting that an eye-witness described seeing smoke in flight.

Most of all, I'm glad the crew are safe.

Predictable, I know, but any news on the bird? Was she a local lass?

SGC

Do you mean 'total loss' ?

Anyone want to lay money on the cab being the one with the most hours left? Some poor fleet planner has just had a little nuclear explosion on his desk!

Puma fleet
 

Well i wonder what JHC will be thinking now, i am pleased no one was hurt but does call into question the PUMA as an operational air type. Keeping the record of one crash a year before long it will take the Lynx accolade of "the widow maker"

JHC...
 

Bishy,

JHC don't do "thinking"... they're experts in the "knee-jerk" department. Fact.

Anyway, more importantly, I'm glad the crew are OK.

Looks like Puma turns over but fails to start to me. (Again)

save the taxpayer some moolah on the upgrade and drive a forklift through the remaining fleet..death traps the lot of 'em!

>Thank God the pilot steered away from the orphanage and primary school<

No doubt he bravely wrestled with the controls during the death plunge -- which was of course also a tailspin -- and narrowly avoided a playground, a convent and a football stadium.

Bit harsh Sir, had 3 great tours on the Puma :ok:

No doubt you contributed in a massive way to the £6.3 Billion pound deficit in equipment with the amount of bodge tape you must have got through trying to seal the nose bay up in that period. :p


Flew a bloody long way before crashing then...... :ugh:

We always had a little man who did that for us so goodness knows what it cost :p

How do we know the bird hit the Puma? For all we know, the Puma hit the bird. Bet no one has informed the bird's NOK!

Maybe the bird is just a red herring....oh nuts, that would be a fish!

Loving the efforts by the Mail's graphics team:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/...05_468x397.jpg

Wonder if the birds name was Wendy:

Wendy Haus, because it appears she has not hung around. Speculative I know, but there for all (not) to see, and what goes around.........

But how does that compare to Wales or football pitches, the usual comparators

No main rotor blades on it either but no-one's suggested they came off in flight...