Thu, 17 January 2013
LONDON — A helicopter crashed into a crane on top of one of Europe’s tallest residential blocks yesterday, killing two people as it burst into flames and spiralled down into rush-hour traffic close to the Houses of Parliament in central London.
Police said there was nothing to suggest a terrorism link to the crash on a foggy morning on the south bank of the River Thames, less than a mile from Britain’s parliament, its secret services headquarters and the site of a new US Embassy.
In parliament, later in the day, Prime Minister David Cameron said helicopter flights over a city with an increasing number of huge skyscrapers needed to be carefully examined.
Witnesses said the helicopter hit a crane on top of the as-yet unoccupied 185-metre high cylindrical block — The Tower, One St George Wharf — spun out of control, fell to the ground and burst into flames, setting nearby buildings alight.Police said there was nothing to suggest a terrorism link to the crash on a foggy morning on the south bank of the River Thames, less than a mile from Britain’s parliament, its secret services headquarters and the site of a new US Embassy.
In parliament, later in the day, Prime Minister David Cameron said helicopter flights over a city with an increasing number of huge skyscrapers needed to be carefully examined.
Wreckage was strewn across roads close to Vauxhall train station, a major transport hub near the south bank of the River Thames, which was packed with thousands of commuters at the time of the incident shortly after 0800 GMT.
A Reuters reporter at the scene said tangled bits of crane could be seen hanging off the side of the tower, the top of which was still shrouded by low cloud an hour after the crash.
“It is something of a miracle that this was not many, many times worse given the time of day that this happened,” police Commander Neil Basu told reporters. The fire service said it had rescued one man from a burning car.
Basu said the helicopter was believed to be on a commercial flight from Redhill, south of the capital, to Elstree, home to famous British film studios north of London, but had been diverted to a heliport near the crash site.
He said there were 13 casualties. The pilot was one of those killed and it was not thought anyone else was on board. One other person was found dead near the wreckage.
The helicopter involved was an Italian-made twin-engined AgustaWestland 109, the company’s best selling VIP corporate helicopter, according to a source familiar with the situation. — Reuters
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