Two helicopters collide in Finland: all on board confirmed dead
Two helicopters collide mid-air near Finnish airport — all five on board killed
Two helicopters that departed simultaneously from Tallinn, Estonia, on May 17 collided mid-air near the Eura airport in southwestern Finland, resulting in the deaths of all five people on board, according to Estonian media and the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The accident occurred shortly after noon on Saturday, as the two helicopters — each flying close together — approached their destination at an altitude of approximately 300 meters.
One helicopter was registered in Estonia, and the other in Austria. Both were Robinson R44 models, a four-seat light helicopter manufactured in the United States.
There were three people aboard one aircraft and two aboard the other. The aircraft flew side by side throughout the entire route from Tallinn to Eura, before the fatal collision.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.
Despite being registered in different countries, both helicopters belonged to Estonian businessmen: Oleg Sinajalg, who worked in the energy sector, and Priit Jaagant, the CEO of construction company Mapri Ehitus. Both men were killed in the collision, along with Jaagant’s wife, who was also on board.
The tragic crash has drawn significant attention in Estonia, as both businessmen were well-known figures in their respective industries. Authorities in Finland are continuing to investigate the cause of the mid-air collision.
The businessmen were flying their helicopters to attend a meeting of aviation enthusiasts scheduled to take place in Pori Air Club, located about 15 kilometers from Eura Airport in Finland.
The event was meant to bring together pilots and aviation hobbyists, but the tragic mid-air collision cut short their journey. The loss of the two prominent Estonian entrepreneurs and one of their spouses has deeply affected both the business and aviation communities in Estonia.
The head of the Pori Aviation Club stated that the "Estonian friends" were expected to arrive on a private visit. However, following the tragic mid-air collision, the planned aviation enthusiasts’ gathering was cancelled out of respect for the victims.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
