Helicopter collision in Finland kills 5

Xinhua | Updated: 2025-05-18 04:22

Share - WeChat

An ATV passes a police vehicle to enter the crash site near the Eura Airfield in Eura, Finland, on May 17, 2025. Two civilian helicopters crashed in Eura on Saturday, according to the Satakunta rescue department. Rescue workers have located the helicopters in a forested area. The authorities have so far declined to provide information regarding possible casualties. [Photo/Agencies]

TALLINN -- Two civilian helicopters departing from Tallinn on Saturday morning collided near Eura Airfield in Southwestern Finland early in the afternoon, killing all five people on board, Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed.

Shortly after 12:30 pm (0930 GMT) on Saturday, the Satakunta Rescue Department received a report from a road near Eura Airfield that two helicopters had collided midair and crashed to the ground, according to Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) and Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

Police said five people were on board the two four-seater Robinson R44 Raven light helicopters at the time of the collision - two in one aircraft and three in the other.

At a press conference Saturday evening, Margus Sarglepp, head of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Consular Assistance Unit, said there were no survivors. Finnish police are working to identify the victims.

Several Estonian media outlets have reported that among the deceased were Estonian businessmen Oleg Sonajalg and Priit Jagant. The names of the other passengers have not yet been released.

Photos