DE News Desk :
Five people lost their lives on Saturday after two helicopters collided mid-air and crashed near Eura Airport in southwestern Finland, police confirmed.
The fatal incident occurred just after noon in a wooded area near the town of Kauttua, approximately 700 metres from Ohikulkutie road.
“Five people have died in a helicopter accident near Eura Airport on Saturday,” said Detective Chief Inspector Johannes Siirilä of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which is leading the investigation.
According to flight records, the helicopters were carrying two and three people respectively.
Both aircraft were registered outside of Finland — one in Estonia and the other in Austria — and were reportedly operated by Estonian companies NOBE and Eleon, according to Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR), citing Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat.
The helicopters were en route to a hobby aviation event, the Pori Aviation Club told Finnish broadcaster Yle.
The NBI is conducting a joint investigation alongside local police, with support from Finnish and Estonian aviation authorities.
The cause of the collision is yet to be determined.