HELSINKI — A mid-air collision between two helicopters near Eura Airport in western Finland on Saturday has left five people dead, authorities confirmed. The fatal crash occurred just after noon, shocking witnesses on the ground who saw one of the helicopters “drop like a stone” from the sky.
The two aircraft were reportedly flying in close formation after taking off from Estonia, en route to an aviation event at Piikajärvi Airfield in Finland. Flight tracking data showed the helicopters maintaining close proximity for much of their journey, but both suddenly disappeared from radar around 12:30 p.m., just before the crash.
According to Finnish police, the collision happened in a wooded area near Eura airport, with the wreckage found 300 feet apart. Local residents and event organizers had been anticipating their arrival when reports of the crash emerged.
One eyewitness, Antti Marjanen, described the terrifying moment to Finnish outlet Iltalehti: “One of them dropped like a stone and the other one more slowly. I didn’t hear any sound.”
Emergency responders rushed to the scene but were unable to save any of the occupants. The National Bureau of Investigation has launched an inquiry into the incident.
“Five people have died in a helicopter accident near Eura Airport on Saturday,” said Detective Chief Inspector Johannes Siirilä of Finland’s NBI.
The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to national broadcaster ERR that all on board both helicopters had died. While the identities of the victims have not been officially released, it is believed that one of the pilots was Oleg Sõnajalg, a prominent Estonian entrepreneur and aviation enthusiast.
The helicopters were part of a group headed for a local aviation showcase at Piikajärvi Airfield. Ari Pullinen, chairman of the Pori Aviation Club, confirmed their expected arrival.
“We knew they were en route. Some of the others arrived, but some didn’t,” Pullinen said.
The incident is one of Finland’s deadliest aviation accidents in recent memory and follows another aviation tragedy in Japan, where three people were killed after a medical helicopter crashed into the sea. Three others—including the pilot, a nurse, and a mechanic—were rescued by the Japanese coast guard and taken to hospital.
As Finland mourns the victims of Saturday’s devastating helicopter collision, aviation safety authorities from both Finland and Estonia are expected to take part in the investigation to determine what led to the fatal mid-air crash.
