Pilot injured in helicopter crash
A PILOT suffered a leg injury but escaped otherwise unscathed when his helicopter crashed.
The man was rescued from the wreckage and taken to a Scottish Charity Air Ambulance only a matter of yards away following the low-height crash at Perth Airport just before 11am yesterday.
One of the first people on the scene described hearing grinding metal and a bang as the aircraft crashed into the ground.
Paramedics rushed to the scene and arrived within 30 seconds to help the man.
It is thought the helicopter was being used as part of training at the airport and was taking off as the crash happened.
Debris was still visible across the airfield while the helicopter’s propeller was bent out of shape, but the vehicle was sitting upright yesterday afternoon.
The helicopter had been covered with a fire-retardant foam as a precaution.
The airport does not service commercial flights and remained open for business.
Graeme Frater, managing director of Perth Airport, said: “We are aware of a ground incident at Perth Airport involving a helicopter.
“We are supporting all of those involved and we will release more information when available.”
Three units from Scottish
Fire and Rescue along with their command unit joined fire officers from the airport.
A worker at a business close to the airport said that a noise got louder and louder before there was a crashing noise.
She said: “We hear helicopters and planes flying over all the time but this time we heard a loud whirring noise which got louder and louder as it got closer before eventually there was a big crashing noise.”
Police Scotland say that an investigation will be carried out into the incident.
A spokesman said: “The occupant of the helicopter has been taken to hospital with a leg injury. There is no danger to the public and an investigation will follow.”