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| Two dead in East Yorkshire coast helicopter crash | Two dead in East Yorkshire coast helicopter crash |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two men have died after a private helicopter crashed off the coast of East Yorkshire, police said. | Two men have died after a private helicopter crashed off the coast of East Yorkshire, police said. |
| The helicopter was on a flight from West Lothian to Nottinghamshire when it crashed near Selwick Bay, Flamborough. | The helicopter was on a flight from West Lothian to Nottinghamshire when it crashed near Selwick Bay, Flamborough. |
| Police said the cause of the crash, at about 13:40 BST, was unclear. | Police said the cause of the crash, at about 13:40 BST, was unclear. |
| Eyewitnesses reported hearing a "loud crack" before the helicopter, a Bell JetRanger, went into the sea. The wreckage is thought to be 200ft (60.96m) below the cliff top. | Eyewitnesses reported hearing a "loud crack" before the helicopter, a Bell JetRanger, went into the sea. The wreckage is thought to be 200ft (60.96m) below the cliff top. |
| The bodies were recovered from the aircraft shortly before 17:00 BST, police said. | The bodies were recovered from the aircraft shortly before 17:00 BST, police said. |
| There was "a quantity of what appears to be aviation fuel in the water around the crash site, making it potentially unsafe at present", a police spokesman said. | There was "a quantity of what appears to be aviation fuel in the water around the crash site, making it potentially unsafe at present", a police spokesman said. |
| 'Behind the cliff' | |
| The men were flying to an airfield in Retford, Nottinghamshire, when the helicopter got into difficulty at Flamborough. | |
| An Edinburgh Airport spokesman said the helicopter had taken off from Dechmont, near Livingston, in West Lothian. | |
| Paul Litten, commercial director at Humberside Airport, said the medium-sized helicopter was due to land for refuelling between 13:30 and 14:00 BST, before flying on to its destination. | Paul Litten, commercial director at Humberside Airport, said the medium-sized helicopter was due to land for refuelling between 13:30 and 14:00 BST, before flying on to its destination. |
| He said the aircraft had "not handed over" to air traffic control at Humberside Airport. | He said the aircraft had "not handed over" to air traffic control at Humberside Airport. |
| Eyewitness Chris Palmer told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We heard the helicopter. It was like a white, private helicopter going along the coast. | Eyewitness Chris Palmer told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We heard the helicopter. It was like a white, private helicopter going along the coast. |
| 'Smell of fuel' | 'Smell of fuel' |
| "We all heard this really loud crack and looked up again. | "We all heard this really loud crack and looked up again. |
| "The helicopter started to descend, almost like a plane when it lands. | "The helicopter started to descend, almost like a plane when it lands. |
| "It then went behind the cliff and that's when I called the emergency services. I never actually heard it hit the sea." | "It then went behind the cliff and that's when I called the emergency services. I never actually heard it hit the sea." |
| Rod Marwood, the course chairman of Flamborough Golf Club, said he was on the course and saw part of the incident. | Rod Marwood, the course chairman of Flamborough Golf Club, said he was on the course and saw part of the incident. |
| "It was just another one of the helicopters we get flying by, especially at the north [side of the head]," he said. | "It was just another one of the helicopters we get flying by, especially at the north [side of the head]," he said. |
| "I had not taken much notice, but then the engine noise changed. I was a fair way away but could see it going down and trying to get to land. | "I had not taken much notice, but then the engine noise changed. I was a fair way away but could see it going down and trying to get to land. |
| "Then it just disappeared down the side of the cliffs and never reappeared. | "Then it just disappeared down the side of the cliffs and never reappeared. |
| "Some guys heard a bump or smack and there was smell of aviation fuel. It was over in four or five seconds". | "Some guys heard a bump or smack and there was smell of aviation fuel. It was over in four or five seconds". |
| The RNLI said lifeboats from Bridlington and Flamborough were at the scene. | The RNLI said lifeboats from Bridlington and Flamborough were at the scene. |
| A member of the public reported seeing the crash between the lighthouse and the golf course in the area of Selwick Bay, Flamborough. | A member of the public reported seeing the crash between the lighthouse and the golf course in the area of Selwick Bay, Flamborough. |
| People have been advised to stay away from the area "until further notice due to the dangerous cliff edges". | People have been advised to stay away from the area "until further notice due to the dangerous cliff edges". |
| Durham Tees Valley Airport said the helicopter had flown through its air space. | Durham Tees Valley Airport said the helicopter had flown through its air space. |
| In a statement, the airport said: "Air traffic control at Durham Tees Valley did handle the flight, which it is believed originated in Scotland, whilst in local airspace. | In a statement, the airport said: "Air traffic control at Durham Tees Valley did handle the flight, which it is believed originated in Scotland, whilst in local airspace. |
| "Subsequently the pilot of the aircraft contacted air traffic control to state that he had landed at a private site and was then proceeding to Humberside Airport." | "Subsequently the pilot of the aircraft contacted air traffic control to state that he had landed at a private site and was then proceeding to Humberside Airport." |
| The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been informed. | The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been informed. |