Two people die as gyrocopter comes down in field

Two people have died after their gyrocopter crashed in a field in the Highlands.

Police Scotland said they were called to the scene near Avoch on the Black Isle at lunchtime yesterday following reports of an aircraft coming down.

C h i e f I n s p e c t o r Ja m i e Wi l s o n , l o c a l a r e a c o mm a n d e r, s a i d : “A r o u n d 12.55pm on Thursday, 12 No ve m b e r, 2 0 2 0, e m e r - g e n c y s e r v i c e s a t t e n d - e d a r e p o r t o f a g y r o - c o p t e r h a v i n g c r a s h e d i n a f i e l d n e a r Av o c h . “A man, the pilot and sole o c c u p a n t o f t h e g y r o - copter, was pronounced d e a d a t t h e s c e n e . H i s f a m i l y a r e a w a r e . “Enquiries into the inc ident are ongoing in conj u n c t i o n w i t h t h e A i r Ac c i d e n t s I nve s t i g a t i o n Branch."

T h e f o r c e h a d s a i d t h e incident involved a light a i r c r a f t , wh i l e t h e S c o ttish Fire and Rescue S ervice (SFRS) said it involved a helicopter.

The SFRS said four fire engines have been sent to the scene.

A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance S e r vice said: “We received a call today at 12.56pm to attend an incident near Avo ch. “We dispatched two ambulances, a manager, a community responder and the PICT (Pre-hospital Immed i a t e C a r e & Tr a u m a ) t e a m f r o m I nve r n e s s t o the scene.”

T h e i n i t i a l e m e r g e n - c y r e s p o n s e t o t h e i n c i - dent also included Inverness Coastguard helicopter, which was later stood down.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch will investigate the crash.

A s p oke s wo ma n s a i d : "We have been notified of a n a c c i d e n t i nvo l v i n g a gyrocopter near Avoch.

"A team of inspectors are on their way to commence an investigation."