An AgustaWestland AW109E helicopter crashed this morning in central London’s rush hour – around 8am.  The helicopter was en route from Redhill to Elstree, but diverting into Battersea Heliport due to poor visibility, when it hit a crane on a block of flats, and crashed to ground in flames.  Two cars were reported hit and there was a fire on the ground.   Only the pilot reported as being on the helicopter, and was sadly killed – as well as one other person on the ground.  13 people on the ground injured.  Various agencies involved:-

• The London Ambulance Service reported treating nine casualties on scene, five for injuries and four for shock.
• The London Fire Brigade reported six fire engines, four fire rescue units,  a number of other specialist vehicles, 88 firefighters and officers are attending a helicopter crash near Wandsworth Road in South Lambeth
• The Metropolitan Police statement added no significant details
• The Air Accidents Investigation Branch say they have sent a team, as you would expect
• Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement
• Aircraft owners Castle Air issued a statement
• Operators Rotormotion have set up a tribute page

The existence of the crane was NOTAM’d last week on the NATS AIS site and rises to 770ft:-

Q) EGTT/QOBCE/IV/M/AE/000/008/5129N00007W001

B) FROM: 13/01/07 17:00C) TO: 13/03/15 23:59

E) HIGH RISE JIB CRANE (LIT AT NIGHT) OPR WI 1NM 5129N 00007W, HGT 
770FT AMSL (VAUXHALL, CENTRAL LONDON), OPS CTC  020 7820 3151
12-10-0429/AS 2.

Further restrictions were put in shortly after the accident for the remainder of the day

Q) EGTT/QRTCA/IV/BO/AW/000/025/5129N00007W002

B) FROM: 13/01/16 09:00C) TO: 13/01/16 17:00 EST

E) RESTRICTED AREA (TEMPORARY) OWING TO INCIDENT AT VAUXHALL BRIDGE
RESTRICTION OF FLYING REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE UNDER ARTICLE 161 
OF THE AIR NAVIGATION ORDER 2009 IN AREA BOUNDED BY A CIRCLE RADIUS  
2NM CENTRED ON 512915N 0000727W.
PILOTS ARE FORBIDDEN TO FLY WI THE DESIGNATED AREA WITHOUT 
PERMISSION OF LONDON TERMINAL CONTROL (SWANWICK) (EMERGENCY 
CONTROLLING AUTHORITY) TEL 02380 401110 . 
ATC UNITS CLOSE TO THE INCIDENT AREA ARE REQUESTED TO ADVISE ACFT ON 
THEIR FREQ OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS NOTAM. MIL ACFT SHOULD COMPLY 
WITH THE MANUAL OF AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CHAPTER 4 PARAGRAPH 27.

LOWER: SFC

UPPER: 2500FT AMSL

See also our page for this accident at 16-Jan-13 G-CRST AgustaWestland AW109E Vauxhall, UK (2F)