Helicopter crashes into crane in London's Vauxhall, kills two | World News - Hindustan Times
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Helicopter crashes into crane in London's Vauxhall, kills two

AFP | By, London
Jan 17, 2013 12:29 AM IST

A helicopter crashed into a crane on top of one of Europe's tallest residential blocks today, killing two people as it burst into flames and threw plumes of smoke into the foggy air above central London.Watch video

A helicopter crashed into a crane on top of one of Europe's tallest residential blocks on Wednesday, killing two people as it burst into flames and threw plumes of smoke into the foggy air above central London.

Police said there was nothing to suggest a terrorism link to the crash on the south bank of the River Thames in the British capital, where 52 commuters were killed in rush hour suicide bombings in 2005.

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"There was a really loud bang," said Julie Marsden, who works in an office building near the crash site which is close to landmarks such as the headquarters of Britain's MI6 international intelligence agency and the Houses of Parliament.

"We saw the crane fall to the ground and this massive plume of black smoke," Marsden said.



An overhead view showing smoke and flames at the site of a helicopter crash in central London, as people gather to view the scene shortly after the incident. AP/Victor Jimenez, PA
An overhead view showing smoke and flames at the site of a helicopter crash in central London, as people gather to view the scene shortly after the incident. AP/Victor Jimenez, PA


Witnesses said the helicopter hit the crane on top of the as yet unoccupied 185-metre (200-yard) high cylindrical block - The Tower, One St George Wharf - span out of control, fell to the ground and burst into flames, setting nearby buildings alight.

There was wreckage and debris strewn across roads close to Vauxhall train station, a major transport hub on the south side of London, which was packed with thousands of commuters at the time of the incident shortly after 0800 GMT.

A Reuters reporter at the scene said tangled bits of crane could be seen hanging off the side of the tower, the top of which was still shrouded by low cloud an hour after the crash.

Police commander Neil Basu said the helicopter was on a commercial flight from Redhill, south of the capital, to Elstree, home to famous British film studios in north London, but had been diverted to a heliport near the crash site.

He said there were 11 casualties including two dead and one critically injured.

The emergency services said the pilot was one of those killed and it was not thought anyone else was on board.

The other fatality was found near the wreckage and the fire service said it had rescued a man from a burning car.

The helicopter involved was an Italian-made AgustaWestland 109, the company's best selling VIP corporate helicopter, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The twin-engined helicopter can carry eight passengers.

Smoke billows from the scene following a helicopter crash in London, after it hit a crane on St. George's Tower building in the Vauxhall area of London. AP/Max James Tolhurst, PA
Smoke billows from the scene following a helicopter crash in London, after it hit a crane on St. George's Tower building in the Vauxhall area of London. AP/Max James Tolhurst, PA


Police were questioning witnesses in the area and dozens of emergency vehicles were in attendance, Reuters reporters said.

Roads around the area including a route over the Thames were closed off, and bus and rail services were affected.

"There's nothing to suggest any terrorism link," a spokesman for London's Counter Terrorism Command said. The fire service said eight fire engines and 60 firefighters were on the scene.

Helicopters in London are generally supposed to fly along the River Thames but London City Airport said its flights had been disrupted due to low visibility.

The department of transport's crash investigation unit said it was preparing the launch an inquiry into the incident.

($1 = 0.6215 British pounds)





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