One person airlifted to hospital after helicopter crashes on Isle of Wight

Summary

One person has been airlifted to a hospital in Southampton following a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight - here's what you need to know
Police say the helicopter crashed in a field near Ventnor, in the southern part of the island - here are the latest pictures from the scene
The whole area has been cordoned off, but in the field across from the crash site I can see police cars parked in the road, writes BBC's Anjana Gadgil from the Isle of Wight
Eyewitness Leigh Goldsmith says she saw the helicopter "spiralling" before it went out of sight
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch, which is part of the Department for Transport, has launched an investigation into the crash
Fleur Sanders, who runs a holiday park near to the crash site, tells the BBC road closures have caused chaos for her guests

Live Reporting

Edited by Matt Spivey

Police cars line the road as rural crash site cordoned offpublished at 14:05 British Summer Time
Anjana Gadgil
Reporting from the Isle of Wight

Image caption,
The area surrounding the crash site is rural, with fields and hills spanning the area
I’m standing in the field across from the crash site and can see the police cars parked in the road where the accident took place.
It’s a rural area with tall hedges lining each side of the narrow winding roads.
The whole area has been cordoned off including the many bridleways and footpaths that crisscross the fields and hill.
A recap - in fewer than 140 wordspublished at 13:58 British Summer Time
Matt Spivey
Live page editor

In the hours since the helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight, there has been a flurry of updates.
One person has been airlifted to hospital after the helicopter came down in a rural part of the island, near Ventnor in the south.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has launched an investigation into the crash, as emergency services - including the police, fire service and air ambulance - remain at the scene this afternoon.
A local MP has urged residents and tourists to avoid the crash site, which he says is "surrounded by fields" and is not very populated.
And, we've heard from an eyewitness, Leigh Goldsmith, who described seeing the helicopter "spiralling" before vanishing from her view.
Meanwhile, holiday park manager Fleur Sanders tells us her guests have been facing chaos as roads remain closed following the crash.
Local holiday park manager describes chaos and road closures in aftermath of crashpublished at 13:23 British Summer Time
Freya Scott-Turner
Live reporter

"It's been a bit chaotic" says Fleur Sanders, who runs Appuldurcombe Gardens Holiday Park in Wroxall, Ventnor, near to the crash site.
Her guests are struggling to make it to their holiday park accommodation in the aftermath of the crash. "They've closed off all the roads at the moment" she says.
On the Isle of Wight, it's the height of the busy summer season for the holiday park. Fleur tells me she's "got guests that can't get access... there's a long diversion, tourists and motor homes are trying to come in".
They're still waiting for an update from authorities on when the roads might reopen.
MP urges residents and tourists to avoid rural crash sitepublished at 13:05 British Summer Time

Conservative MP for the Isle of Wight East Joe Robertson tells BBC Radio 5 Live he is encouraging residents and tourists to avoid the site of the crash.
"Where the helicopter came down is fairly rural," Robertson says. "It's surrounded by fields and a road that runs from Shanklin and Sandown, which are on the east, quite well-known for their beaches, through to Ventnor in the south, which is part of the rocky part of south of the island.
"It is not in a very populated area, albeit it seems to be fairly close to a road that runs between two towns.”
Investigation into crash under way - Air Accidents Investigation Branchpublished at 12:53 British Summer Time

A team has been deployed to investigate the crash, says the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
A spokesperson for the agency - which is part of the Department for Transport - says that the "AAIB was notified of an accident involving a light helicopter on the Isle of Wight this morning".
They go on to say that "we are deploying a team to commence an investigation".
Emergency services at the scene - in picturespublished at 12:43 British Summer Time

Images from the crash site on the Isle of Wight show a number of ambulances, fire engines and police cars parked up along Shanklin Road.
The rotors of the crashed helicopter appear to be poking out from the field.
Another angle shows a yellow Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance stationed in the field as emergency crews work continue to work at the scene.
As a reminder, we've heard from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, external, the Air Ambulance, external and the Fire and Rescue service.
Image source, Echo / Solent
Image source, Echo / Solent
What's the latest?published at 12:20 British Summer Time

We're continuing to bring you details on a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight, but let's get you up to speed on what you need to know:
What we know
- One person has been airlifted to a hospital in Southampton after a helicopter crashed in a field on the Isle of Wight
- The helicopter crash site is a field, near the A3020 Shanklin Road on the Isle of Wight, and just a few miles from the seaside towns of Shanklin and Ventnor
- An eyewitness say they saw it "spiralling" before it disappeared into a hedge
- Emergency services, including a doctor, specialist paramedic, police and firefighters are working at the scene
What we don't know
- How many people were on board the helicopter
- What caused the helicopter to crash
- If there are any casualties
Where did the crash happen?published at 12:14 British Summer Time

The Isle of Wight is an island located just off the coast of Southampton, Gosport and Portsmouth, in the south of England.
The island is 146 square miles (380 sq kms) in size and has a population of just over 140,000 people, according to the 2021 census.
Emergency services say the helicopter has crashed in a field near Ventnor, in the southern part of the island.
According to police Shanklin Road on the Isle of Wight is currently closed and officers have urged people to avoid the area.
The road is about 2.9 miles (4.66km) from the seaside town of Shanklin and 3.6 miles (5.79km) from Ventnor.
One person airlifted to hospital - Air Ambulancepublished at 12:06 British Summer Time
Breaking

One patient has been treated and airlifted to the major trauma centre at University Hospital Southampton, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance say in a statement.
No further details have been given on the condition of the patient.
Firefighters called out to scene of helicopter crash, rescue service sayspublished at 11:57 British Summer Time

There's been a flurry of updates from emergency services, the latest is from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.
A spokeswoman says that: "Firefighters from Newport, Ventnor and Shanklin were called out shortly before 09.30am on Monday, 25 August, following reports of a light aircraft incident near Shanklin Road".
Doctor and specialist paramedic at scene, Air Ambulance sayspublished at 11:52 British Summer Time

We're now hearing from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.
A spokesperson confirms that their "dispatchers deployed the air ambulance at 09:28 to an incident near Ventnor on the Isle of Wight today".
They go on to say that: "The critical care team consisting of a doctor and a specialist paramedic are on scene working alongside our emergency service colleagues."
Eyewitness describes helicopter 'spiralling' before crashpublished at 11:45 British Summer Time

We can now bring you a comment from eyewitness Leigh Goldsmith, who says she saw the helicopter "spiralling".
Speaking to the Isle of Wight County Press, she adds that she was driving towards the town of Shanklin when the helicopter disappeared and came down in a hedge.
Goldsmith adds that she then went to the scene of the crash where she saw what looked like airbags activated under the helicopter.
Police statement in fullpublished at 11:38 British Summer Time

We're still waiting on more details to emerge following a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight, but we can bring you the latest statement from the police:
A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesman said: "We were called at 09:24 to a report that a helicopter had come down in a field near the A3020 Shanklin Road.
"The road is closed due to the number of emergency services vehicles at the scene, so please avoid the area at this time."
It is unclear how many people were onboard and whether there are any casualties or injuries.
Helicopter crashes on Isle of Wightpublished at 11:33 British Summer Time
Breaking

A helicopter has crashed in a field on the Isle of Wight.
Emergency services were called to the scene – near the A3020 Shanklin Road - at 09:24 BST, according to a spokesperson from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.
The road has been closed and police have warned people to avoid the area.
We don’t know yet whether there are any casualties.
This is a developing story, we’ll bring you more details as we get them.