(Getty)
A helicopter crash involving a US Air Force helicopter is reported to have killed four people, reports ITV.
We can confirm that one of our HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters was involved in an incident during a training mission outside Cley-Next-The-Sea
— RAF Lakenheath (@48FighterWing) January 7, 2014
Here’s what you need to know:
1. The Accident Happened Close to a Military Base
U/D Police are investigating reports of a helicopter crash in Cley-next-the-Sea in North Norfolk. pic.twitter.com/NIPGsjPhq8
— London News Stand (@LnsLondon) January 7, 2014
The crash happened at around 8:53 p.m. local time, reports the BBC, on January. The crash happened in Cley, about 50 miles to an Royal Air Force base used by US Air Force personnel in Lakenheath, Suffolk.
2. Some Locals Reported Hearing Military Aircraft Overhead A Lot Recently
(Wikipedia)
Locals reported hearing helicopters performing maneuvers overhead late at night over the last few days. The helicopter involved is reported to have been a HH-60 Pave Hawk US helicopter (above).
Sky sources: Norfolk helicopter crash believed to involve a U.S. black hawk flying from RAF Lakenheath
— Sky News Newsdesk (@SkyNewsBreak) January 7, 2014
3. One Local Said She Had Never Seen So Many Emergency Service Vehicles
One resident of the area told the Eastern Daily Press:
We had never seen so many police cars and fire engines so went to have a look.
The beach road to Cley is sealed off. There are lots of fire engines near the Dun Cow pub at Salthouse. A helicopter is hovering over the marsh with a light beaming down.
Someone said it was a helicopter down, and a coastguard told us to clear the area…
A guy at Salthouse said he had heard a lot of helicopter manoeuvres at night recently.
Looks like Pave Hawks were based with 56th Rescue Squadron at Lakenheath.
— Andrew Fitchett (@EDPAndrew) January 7, 2014
4. We Are Awaiting an Official Statement
A statement is expected shortly from the Lakenheath base. Local police in Norfolk released a statement saying:
Police are currently dealing with a single helicopter crash in the Cley area on the north Norfolk coast. There are believed to be four dead. Officers are on the scene, with a 400 metre area cordoned off.
5. The Crash Happened Over Land
The crash happened along the coastline, after initial concern that the aircraft had plunged into the sea, local sea rescue was mobilized. They stood down when the wreckage was discovered over land, reports The Guardian.