Interactive map: Helicopter crash
- Published
Two people were killed and 12 others injured after a helicopter hit a crane and crashed close to Vauxhall station in south London on Wednesday morning.
Eyewitnesses to the crash, which happened around 08:00 GMT, described hearing an "enormous bang" and seeing the helicopter tumbling to the ground.
The aircraft was on a scheduled flight from Redhill in Surrey to Elstree in Hertfordshire but the pilot, later named as Capt Pete Barnes, had requested to divert to London Battersea Heliport because of bad weather. Capt Barnes was one of those killed, along with another person on the ground.
Vauxhall
The helicopter crashed at about 08:00 GMT on Wandsworth Road in Vauxhall, south London, close to New Covent Garden flower market.
Damaged crane
The helicopter hit a crane attached to the St George Wharf building on the south bank of the River Thames. Visibility in the area at the time was poor, with many buildings shrouded in mist.
Eyewitness
Aaron Rogers described hearing a bang and seeing the helicopter falling to the ground in pieces.
Pall of smoke
A pall of smoke was visible from some distance away. Police cordoned off a wide area following the crash.
Wreckage
Flaming wreckage covered part of Wandsworth Road. Two people were killed, including the helicopter pilot, and a further nine people injured.
Rescue response
Emergency services were on the scene within minutes. Around 90 firefighters were involved, with one man reportedly rescued from a burning car .
View of scene from BBC helicopter
Experience was 'surreal'
Area cleared by emergency services
Unusual buzzing sound
'Every helicopter pilot's nightmare'
'I thought it was a bomb'
Crane driver's view
Helicopter 'came straight towards us'