Five dead in helicopter collision in Finland, police say

Police said the mid-air collision occurred shortly after noon near the town of Kauttua, with the wreckage falling some 700 metres from the Ohikulkutie road

An ATV passes a police vehicle to enter the crash site near the Eura Airfield in Eura, Finland, on May 17, 2025. Two civilian helicopters crashed in Eura on Saturday, according to the Satakunta rescue department. Rescue workers have located the helicopters in a forested area. The authorities have so far declined to provide information regarding possible casualties. Lehtikuva/Petri Hakosalo via REUTERS

Reuters

Published : 18 May 2025, 08:49 AM

Updated : 18 May 2025, 08:49 AM

Five people were killed on Saturday when two helicopters collided and crashed in a wooded area near Eura Airport in southwestern Finland, police said.

Police said the mid-air collision occurred shortly after noon near the town of Kauttua, with the wreckage falling some 700 metres (yards) from the Ohikulkutie road.

"Five people have died in a helicopter accident near Eura Airport on Saturday," Detective Chief Inspector Johannes Siirilä of the National Bureau of Investigation said.

According to flight plans, there were two people aboard one helicopter and three in the other, police said, adding that both helicopters were registered outside Finland.

One helicopter was registered in Estonia, the other in Austria, according to an Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) report, citing Finland's Helsingin Sanomat newspaper. Both belonged to Estonian companies. One was owned by NOBE and the other by Eleon, the report added.

The helicopters were reportedly en route to a hobby aviation event, according to the Pori Aviation Club, Yle News reported.

The National Bureau of Investigation is leading a joint probe with local police, and Finnish and Estonian authorities are cooperating.