Four dead in US military helicopter crash in Norfolk (UK)

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: The Herald, Scotland

Four people have been killed after a US Blackhawk military helicopter crashed off the north Norfolk coast.

Police and other emergency services are attending the scene in the area of Cley-Next-To-The Sea.
...

The accident happened in the peaceful former port which lies near the RAF Lakenheath air base on the Norfolk, Suffolk border.

Read more: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/four-dead-in-us-military-helicopter-crash-off-norfolk-coast.1389131188

---

See also: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25646978

(Actually, Cley is about 50 miles away from Lakenheath)

Local paper: http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/four_people_believed_to_be_dead_following_helicopter_crash_in_the_cley_area_north_norfolk_1_3182375

[dipsydoodle]

1. Was in the marshes - the nature reserve

I'm not sure what the significance is of there being "ammunition"on board.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. It means rescuers have to take extra care

if there's any chance of a fire.

This bit now in the BBC site sounds strange:

The helicopter came down at 18:00 GMT and a spokesman said the first unit arrived at the scene at 19:53 GMT.
...
Brian Egan, who lives near to the site of the crash, said he saw two military aircraft flying in the area at about 18:00 GMT.

You'd think that if there was another aircraft there, a distress signal would have gone out at once, and rescuers would be there quicker than nearly 2 hours later.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Fatal US helicopter crash in Norfolk: Investigation starts

The aircraft, from the 48th Fighter Wing, was on a low-level training mission and carrying live ammunition.

A 1,200ft (400m) area is cordoned off and the A149 through Cley is closed.

The wreckage, including a "significant" number of bullets from the crashed aircraft, is scattered over an area the size of a football pitch, police said.

It will take a number of days to carry out an inquiry, due to the geography of the area and the live munitions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-25649464

[WhoWoodaKnew]

4. Man, that's terrible. I feel for their families.

[dipsydoodle]

5. Low flying over Norfolk nature reserve 'was accident waiting to happen'

There have been longstanding concerns about low-flying military aircraft carrying out training exercises over the Norfolk coast where a US air force helicopter crash killed four crew members on Tuesday night.

As police launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, local residents and politicians said they had seen military aircraft flying as low as 10ft (3 metres) above Cley Marshes nature reserve.

Richard Kelham, chair of Cley parish council, said flying so close to a breeding ground for birds was an "accident waiting to happen" and had prompted complaints to nearby RAF bases. Another councillor said regulations had been introduced about 15 years ago to order the aircraft to fly higher when using the area near Salthouse.

"We used to complain to the commanding officer who bluntly told us to piss off. In a sense it's an accident waiting to happen," Kelham said.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/08/low-flying-norfolk-nature-reserve-accident

[Drew2510]

6. A great deal of helicopter training

is conducted at low, low altitudes. Its done this way for tactical reasons and is called Nap-of-the-earth or contour flying. It has been this way since about the late 1970's or early 80's.