Passenger Helicopter crashes off Tallinn, Estonia

A helicopter of the Finnish company Copterline carrying fourteen people has crashed into the Baltic Sea, 5 km off the coast of Estonia. Reports vary saying the sea is either 20m or 50-60m deep in the area.

Earlier reports indicated that the helicopter had been found and recovered, these reports turned out to be premature though. The emergency beacon has not been found yet and the exact location of the wreck is officially yet unknown. Reports indicate that the wreck lies too deep to be reached by diving crews.

The Sikorsky S-76 was on a scheduled passenger flight to Helsinki from Tallinn, the Estonian capital. The craft came down just three minutes after take-off.

Onboard were six Finns, four Estonians and two Americans, with two Finnish crew.

Estonian rescue helicopters and boats have been sent, with a rescue helicopter also flying in from Finland.

The area has been suffering from severe storms recently.

Sources

• "Helicopter crashes into Baltic with 14 on board". Reuters, August 10, 2005

• "Helicopter crashes in Baltic Sea". BBC, August 10, 2005

• "Helikopter kukkus merre". Delfi, August 10, 2005

• "Naissaare lähedal kukkus alla kopter". Postimees, August 10, 2005

• Associated Press "Copter down in Baltic, 14 missing". CNN News, August 10, 2005
• http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Fourteen_dead_as_passenger_helicopter_crashes_off_Estonia