Helicopter pilot killed in fireball field crash

A HELICOPTER crashed into a field yesterday and exploded in a huge fireball, killing the pilot.

The crash happened on the outskirts of Aldborough, North Yorks, at around 1.20pm. The pilot was declared dead at the scene.

Katie McCann, 53, who was visiting family in the village, said she heard an “enormous explosion” as the helicopter plunged into the crop field behind Aldborough Hall.

She said: “One man said he had seen it. It was a red and white helicopter. He said it had climbed up into the cloud like it was trying to recover itself, then dropped like a stone.”

It is understood the helicopter landed in nearby Boroughbridge around 8.30am before it took off for its last flight.

Nosedived

North Yorkshire Police have launched an investigation along with the Air Accident Investigation Branch.

Superintendent Dave Hannan said: “It was apparent that there was only one single occupant of that helicopter.”

A police spokesman last night said the pilot would not be named until relatives had been informed.

Agricultural scientist Danny Cowing, 29, who lives nearby, said he heard the helicopter flying low and could tell it was in trouble.

“It came out of the clouds and nosedived down,” he said.

“One of the guys said the pilot tried to pull it up and it then hit the ground and blew up.

“It was a ball of flames. There was nothing we could do.”