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Helicopter Crash Claims 14 Lives
Published 10.08.2005, 14.19 (updated 10.08.2005, 21.06)

All twelve passengers and two crew members perished when a helicopter operated by Copterline crashed into the Gulf of Finland. The craft was en route from Tallinnn to Helsinki. Estonia's Interior Ministry says the craft has been located on the sea bed at a depth of over 40 metres.

The craft, a Sikorsky S-76, went down close to Naissaari about ten kilometres off the Estonian coast.

Six of the passengers were Finns along with four Estonians and two Americans. Both crew members were Finnish. The helicopter crashed soon after take-off just after mid-day.

Estonian air traffic controllers lost contact with the craft three minutes after take-off but said it did not send out any distress signal. The craft went down in strong gusting winds. An eye witness said the craft crashed straight into the sea.

Rescue operations are currently underway with Finnish and Estonian vessels accompanied by divers at the scene. No reason for the accident is known yet.

The Foreign Ministry has requested that concerned relatives contact the police for more information. Calls should be directed to the National Board of Investigation's number 09-83886766.

Reason For Crash Remains Unclear

Copterline which operates a helicopter service between Helsinki and Tallinn says the reason for the crash remains unclear. The company's Estonian representative says all its helicopters were in a well maintained condition.

Neither did the company's CEO Kari Ljungberg believe stormy weather to be a factor in the crash. Copterline is Finland's largest helicopter operator.

Copterline was in the headlines last year when Civil Aviation Administration Officials imposed a temporary ban on its flights over the Gulf of Finland during poor weather. At the time, officials said Copterline crew members did not have adequate training and skills to fly in poor weather. After additional training was carried out, the ban was lifted.

Copterline says the crew members on Wednesday's ill fated flight were highly experienced. The company has flown on the Helsinki-Tallinn route since 2000. Some 28 flights are made daily.

AP, Finnish News Agency, YLE Radio News