Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

The emergency services are responding to reports of a helicopter crash in south London.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21040410

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

Just watching the coverage now. Looks like the loss of life will be small thankfully and that it could have been much worse.

Sky already speculating about possible terrorist attacks as they're apt to do at the drop of a hat. Seems far more likely to me that it's just a tragic accident.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

Yes it looks like there was quite a lot of fog in the area during this time and obviously visibility would have been much reduced.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

If its terrorism I'll be hugely surprised although from my limited knowledge of London is the crash site not pretty close to the MI5 or MI6 building? (Can't remember which one, the one that was in a Bond film a few years back.)

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

I think the only reason they're suggesting a terrorist attack is because that's what one of the eye-witnesses said he thought it was at the time. But I think the fact the fog was so thick and so low will be more likely the cause.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

l think its near the MI5 building Derek from my experiences of this area but yes from what l have heard l think the chances of terrorism as you say are pretty slim.

Reports are now saying that sadly two people have died.:(

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

An eyewitness has just stated the helicopter clipped the crane - this seems to confirm it was nothing but a tragic accident.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

From this description of the area I'd imagine there were some clenched cheeks amongst the emergency services the minutes reports of an explosion came in.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

Latest update from the BBC at 10:22

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

Really? - I have just been watching Sky News for last hour and half, not one mention of it being a Terrorist Attack at all in their reports.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

I'm sure they've got a terrorist expert lined up to talk to about how bad this could have been if it were a terrorist attack.

it's another exciting day at Sky News today. they love this kind of thing.
the sound effects man is probably looking for some new sound effects to use too.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

True. When I was at school (mid 80s), my mum and dad had a newsagents in the New Covent Garden market. Even then, the whole area was incredibly busy (especially during the rush hour) and had loads of flats. It's worse now.

There are also a few things I could imagine would be potential targets for terrorism. Nearly all (if not all) of the train lines to Victoria go through Vauxhall. There is also the aforementioned MI5 building, and Vauxhall bridge.

Of those, I'd say the train lines would be most likely to be hit. Think of the problems a terrorist could cause by damaging those lines. A major transport hub would be disabled. The MI5 building is also a potential target but is likely to be heavily fortified.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

Far fetched nonsense.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

Correction - trains through Vauxhall terminate at Waterloo generally being South West Trains.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

BBC News is so much more chilled out.
Sky NEWS will just make you think the world is coming to an end.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

Sorry, got my train lines mixed up..

However, disabling those lines would still impact a lot of people.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

The South West train site says 11:00

"Vauxhall Railway Station has now reopened following a helicopter crash in the area earlier. Trains have started to pick up and set down passengers again at this station.
The Vauxhall Underground station has also reopened"

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

If it makes you think like that then you are incredibly narrow minded.

A Helicopter has crashed in London, Sky News is obviously reporting it, as is BBC News, but as I am watching it, I am not feeling the sense of impending doom or that the world is about to end and niether news station is giving me an impression the world is ending. Nor do I agree with earlier claims in this thread that Sky was jumping on to Terrorism claims.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

Unfortunately, the interpretation is often in the eye of the beholder - some people just like watch the world burn, and if it isn't, like to think that it is going to....

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

It doesn't make me think like that. but I can see how it would others.

Have they had the terrorism man on yet? I haven't been watching it.

Even if he wasn't saddened. his spokesman would still say he was.
I've never understood why we always want to know what any PM thinks.
we've never heard of one that doesn't give a fig.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

Go back to bed Gary L and get out the right side. :rolleyes:

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

Eamonn Holmes put the suggestion to one of the witnesses early on in their coverage and it was mentioned several times while I was listening. You appear to have missed that which accounts for your comment. As more facts became known from the emergency services etc. Sky obviously stopped mentioning the possible terrorist angle. Can't comment on what the Beeb were reporting as I wasn't listening to them.

Whenever there's an incident in London we get the same speculation and it's not entirely surprising -hence my comment. Not that long ago it was a disgruntled HGV driver who held up a building in Tottenham Court Road.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

Not far from either but literally just the other side of the road from the SIS (MI6 if you like) building at Vauxhall Cross. The other guys are across the river at Millbank, further up towards Lambeth Bridge.

Thing is there should have been a NOTAM (notice to airmen) regarding that tower crane for pilots on visual flight rules so the pilot should really have known about it.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

Tragic. R.I.P

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21049125

:( RIP.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

Listening to the reports on the beeb radio news and jeremy vine it appears that the helicipter has hit the boom of the 700ft crane .A helicipter pilot who flies that rout was on the radio saying that the pilots have to fly along the thames incase of malfuntion then they can just ditch in the thames instead of a built up area so it begs the question if the pilot was on course why was the boom parked over the thames smack in the middle of the helicopter flying zone which is between 500ft and 1500ft

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

There was an IB (Information Bulletin) about the crane and it was lit at night, but he may not have got it as he had deviated due to weather.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

Just been watching Jeff Randall live on sky news and all he is interested in is blaming the pilot of the chopper and trying unsuccessfully to big up the chance of it happening again. **** news at its best.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

Apparently the pilot was an ex air ambulance pilot amongst other things up here in the NE with thousands of hours behind him

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

The news are not interested in that, it does not draw people to watch they rubbish

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013...ot-pete-barnes

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

IMHO I believe the pilot had seconds to decide were to crash, and aimed for the road.

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

IMHO some numpty left the crane boom hanging over the river .It will be interesting to see what the H&S and crash investigators come up with because there will be strict protocols in place for that crane and how to park it ,and i bet parking the boom over the river was a no no

Re: Helicopter crashes into crane in London.
 

I doubt it, the blades (needed to steer a helicopter) reportedly came off in the crane collision, after that it was all down to gravity and momentum.

It's strange how this happened, the crane had been NOTAM'd (on the air traffic warnings as 770') for a reasonable length of time so that it would appear on any navigation update (pilots should update daily) also standard approach is at 1400'-1500' so given his experience and that he'd been flying for this company for many years including G-CRST I'm likely to assume that a possible instrument or other failure may have contributed along with the fog.

Either way it is a tragic accident