RAF
RAF Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing And Catches Fire In Snowdonia
An RAF helicopter has caught fire after making an emergency landing in Snowdonia.
The incident, involving a Griffin training helicopter flying out of RAF Valley on Angelsey, occurred at around 1:45pm today in north Wales.
Only from a distance and low quality @AlyxGemmapic.twitter.com/LjG3gYteMB
— NT Snowdonia & Llŷn (@NTSnowdoniaLlyn) August 9, 2016
Walkers in the area said flames as high as 10ft were seen near Snowdon.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said:
“A Griffin training helicopter safely completed a precautionary landing in Snowdonia this afternoon following a technical issue. Everyone on board exited safely, subsequently the aircraft caught fire. Emergency services are on the scene.”
An RAF Griffin training helicopter
The MoD said six people were involved in the training exercise with five people were on board the helicopter and one on the ground, they were "safely transported from the landing site".
People have been posting pictures on Twitter of the incident.
Big fire on peak next to #snowdon Now just black smoke. Accident? pic.twitter.com/SLw63ppOPp
— Philippa Napper (@Philippa_Napper) August 9, 2016
The Maritime Coastguard Agency said:Think a helicopter has crash landed on top of mountain across from Snowdon. Huge fire, can see the flames from here pic.twitter.com/4kgZWPEyGF
— Huw Price (@huw_price) August 9, 2016
“The UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at St Athan and the Llanberis , Ogwen, Aberglaswyn and RAF Valley Mountain Rescue Teams have been sent to the location. North Wales Police have also been informed.”
Chief Inspector Nick Evans from North Wales Police said:
"Just before 1.45pm today emergency services attended to reports of a helicopter crash landing in the Yr Aran area of Snowdon."
"The Wales Air Ambulance in partnership with the Welsh Ambulance Service attended the location along with North Wales Police and Mountain Rescue Teams."
"It transpires that an RAF training helicopter from RAF Valley safely completed a precautionary landing in Snowdonia this afternoon following a technical issue."
"All occupants of the aircraft exited safely before the aircraft caught fire."
An RAF Griffin flypast on Snowdownia in May.
The Griffin HT1 is used as an advanced flying-training helicopter at the Rescue Training Unit at RAF Valley on the island of Anglesey.
An air exclusion zone has been put in place.
Cover image courtesy: Philippa Nappar @Philipa_Napper
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