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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Probe into fatal helicopter crash | Probe into fatal helicopter crash |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| An investigation has begun into the cause of an RAF helicopter crash in North Yorkshire which left two people dead and 10 injured. | An investigation has begun into the cause of an RAF helicopter crash in North Yorkshire which left two people dead and 10 injured. |
| Police said the deaths were confirmed at the scene after the crash at about 2100 BST on Wednesday on land to the west of Catterick Garrison army base. | Police said the deaths were confirmed at the scene after the crash at about 2100 BST on Wednesday on land to the west of Catterick Garrison army base. |
| Injured people were taken to hospitals in Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Darlington and Northallerton. | Injured people were taken to hospitals in Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Darlington and Northallerton. |
| A Ministry of Defence (MoD) board of inquiry will investigate the accident. | |
| The MoD has issued a helpline number for concerned families of service personnel to contact them - 08457 800900. | The MoD has issued a helpline number for concerned families of service personnel to contact them - 08457 800900. |
| North Yorkshire Police said three of the people on board the helicopter were RAF crew, and nine Army personnel were passengers. | North Yorkshire Police said three of the people on board the helicopter were RAF crew, and nine Army personnel were passengers. |
| Some of the casualties were taken by RAF Sea King helicopter to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, a Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokeswoman said. | Some of the casualties were taken by RAF Sea King helicopter to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, a Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokeswoman said. |
| Others were flown to Newcastle while one person was taken by road ambulance to Friarage Hospital, Northallerton. | Others were flown to Newcastle while one person was taken by road ambulance to Friarage Hospital, Northallerton. |
| The crash was near the Hudswell Grange wooded area to the west of Catterick Garrison. | The crash was near the Hudswell Grange wooded area to the west of Catterick Garrison. |
| The garrison, in the north east of Yorkshire, is the UK's largest Army base, with 7,500 regular soldiers, 1,900 recruits and 2,000 civilian staff. | |
| The base covers 2,400 acres, with a further 20,000 acres of training land. | The base covers 2,400 acres, with a further 20,000 acres of training land. |
| Local resident Andrew Pavey said he had witnessed the crash. | Local resident Andrew Pavey said he had witnessed the crash. |
| "We watched this helicopter quite rapidly go straight up into the air and it didn't sound right," he told BBC News. | "We watched this helicopter quite rapidly go straight up into the air and it didn't sound right," he told BBC News. |
| "It sounded like the engine was misfiring or something - it was making a hell of a racket. | "It sounded like the engine was misfiring or something - it was making a hell of a racket. |
| "This helicopter went onto its side and then shot off. I didn't hear [any] bangs or [anything]. I didn't see [any] flames or anything like that at all." | "This helicopter went onto its side and then shot off. I didn't hear [any] bangs or [anything]. I didn't see [any] flames or anything like that at all." |
| Board of inquiry | Board of inquiry |
| MoD spokesman Michael Mulford told BBC News 24: "An RAF helicopter, just shortly before 2130, did come down just on the edge of the Catterick Garrison which is locally known as Hudswell Grange. | MoD spokesman Michael Mulford told BBC News 24: "An RAF helicopter, just shortly before 2130, did come down just on the edge of the Catterick Garrison which is locally known as Hudswell Grange. |
| "We did launch a major search and rescue operation involving two helicopters, two mountain rescue teams and our colleagues from the police service." | "We did launch a major search and rescue operation involving two helicopters, two mountain rescue teams and our colleagues from the police service." |
| The helicopter would have been flying "in support of the army in some sort of manoeuvres or training", he added. | The helicopter would have been flying "in support of the army in some sort of manoeuvres or training", he added. |
| "The investigation will go through every possible detail, everything to do with the maintenance of the aircraft, everything to do with crew hours and flying hours as well as weather conditions, mechanics and electrics - everything that you can think of that might contribute to an accident." | "The investigation will go through every possible detail, everything to do with the maintenance of the aircraft, everything to do with crew hours and flying hours as well as weather conditions, mechanics and electrics - everything that you can think of that might contribute to an accident." |
| A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said the site of the crash was cordoned off. | A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said the site of the crash was cordoned off. |
| North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service crews also attended. | North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service crews also attended. |