A quiet Thursday morning in South Yorkshire turned into a scene of horror when a private helicopter came crashing down in a field near Doncaster, killing one man and injuring three others — including a child.
According to South Yorkshire Police, emergency crews were called to Ings Road in Bentley around 10:15 a.m. on October 30, after reports that a helicopter had gone down shortly after takeoff.
The 70-year-old passenger suffered catastrophic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said his family has been notified, but his name has not been released publicly.
The pilot, a 41-year-old man, and two other passengers — a 58-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy — escaped with minor injuries. They were treated at the scene before being taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
Flight data shows the aircraft took off from Retford Gamston Airport, about 25 miles south of Doncaster, before vanishing from radar roughly eight minutes later.
Curtis Borkowski, who was working at a construction site nearby, told the BBC he saw the helicopter flying low overhead just minutes before tragedy struck.
“As it flew over Doncaster, the engine sounded really bad,” Borkowski recalled. “I thought something wasn’t right — it just didn’t sound healthy.”
Another witness, local resident Lee Needham, said the pilot’s quick thinking likely prevented a far worse disaster.
“The crash site is surrounded by homes, train lines, and power towers,” Needham said. “Whoever was flying that thing probably saved a lot of lives by putting it down where he did.”
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) confirmed that a team of aviation experts has been deployed to the scene to determine what caused the crash. Investigators are expected to analyze flight data, weather conditions, and the helicopter’s maintenance records.
Retford Gamston Airport, where the aircraft was based, confirmed the helicopter belonged to an on-site tenant.
“We can confirm an aircraft operated by one of our tenants has been involved in an incident,” a spokesperson said. “We are cooperating fully with the authorities.”
Detective Inspector Matt Bolger of South Yorkshire Police urged anyone with footage or eyewitness information to come forward.
“We’re particularly keen to hear from anyone who captured the helicopter on video prior to the crash,” Bolger said. “Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the man who sadly died in this tragic incident.”
The local community has been left shaken. Rebecca Booth, a Doncaster resident, said the town is “in shock.”
“It’s a lovely, close-knit community,” she said. “Everyone’s been talking about it. You just don’t expect something like this to happen here.”
Member of Parliament Ed Miliband also expressed his condolences on social media, calling the event “devastating.”
“My thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim,” he wrote. “Doncaster stands united in grief.”
The cause of the crash remains unknown, but investigators are expected to release preliminary findings in the coming weeks.
Discover more from Next Gen News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.