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Several people were killed on Saturday after two helicopters collided mid-air and crashed in western Finland’s Eura region, police confirmed. According to a statement issued by the Finnish police, “The accident has resulted in several fatalities. The exact number of victims and the identities of the passengers are still being determined.”

As per metro.co.uk, the helicopters, carrying a total of five individuals, plummeted to the ground following the collision. Witnesses reportedly looked on in shock as the aircraft smashed into each other above Eura, a western province that recently hosted British helicopter squadrons during the Finnish Army’s spring exercises at the end of April.

However, a spokesperson for the Finnish General Staff clarified that neither the Finnish Air Force nor any international military helicopters were involved in the incident.

Police officials noted that while the pilots of both helicopters were known to authorities, the identification of the remaining passengers was still underway.

Antti Marjanen, a resident of Kauttua in Eura, recounted the incident to Finnish news outlet Iltalehti. “I looked at them with admiration, as you rarely see such aircraft,” he said. Moments later, he observed one of the helicopters making an “evasive” manoeuvre before colliding with the other. “One came down like a stone, the other a little bit like that, little by little. I did not hear any sound,” he added, as per metro.co.uk.

Both Helicopter Took Off From Estonia Capital Tallinn

Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicated that two helicopters had taken off from Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, around the same time.

While their intended destination was not confirmed, the helicopters were last seen flying side by side in Eura before they abruptly disappeared from radar north of Eura Airport.

Authorities received an emergency call at 12:35 pm local time reporting the collision. Finnish police and search and rescue services later located the wreckages near Eura Airport, although not within the airport’s premises. “Two helicopters that fell to the ground have been located,” the rescue service confirmed, as per metro.co.uk.

Investigations into the cause of the crash and the identities of the deceased are ongoing.