Five Dead After Mid-Air Collision Between Two Helicopters Near Eura Airport in Finland

Two civilian helicopters collided in mid-air in the western Finnish province of Eura, killing several people.

Five people have been confirmed dead following a tragic mid-air collision between two helicopters near Eura Airport in western Finland. The fatal crash occurred around 12:00 p.m. local time, when the helicopters, reportedly en route to an aviation event, collided and plummeted into a wooded area.

Eyewitnesses reported a harrowing scene as the aircraft spiraled out of control and fell from an altitude of approximately 600 feet. One of the helicopters was described as having "dropped like a stone," while the other descended more slowly before both were engulfed by the forest canopy.

Five people have died after two helicopters crashed into each other in Finland

Flight tracking data indicated that the helicopters had taken off from Estonia and had been flying in close formation for much of the journey. At approximately 12:30 p.m., both aircraft vanished from radar near Eura Airport. Soon after, bystanders observed the devastating collision unfold in real time.

National Bureau of Investigation Detective Chief Inspector Johannes Siirilä confirmed the fatalities, stating, “Five people have died in a helicopter accident near Eura airport on Saturday.”

Among the witnesses was Antti Marjanen, who described seeing the collision occur during an aerial maneuver. "One of them dropped like a stone," Marjanen said.

Emergency services arrive to the scene of the crash

The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs later confirmed that all individuals aboard the helicopters had died. Although the identities of the victims have not yet been officially released, reports suggest that one of the pilots may have been prominent Estonian entrepreneur Oleg Sõnajalg.

Organizers at the Piikajärvi Airfield, where the helicopters were expected to arrive as part of the aviation event, confirmed that the two aircraft were scheduled participants. Chairman of the Pori Aviation Club, Ari Pullinen, stated, “We knew they were en route. Some of the others arrived, but some didn’t.”

The crash is under investigation, and authorities are working to determine the exact cause of the collision. The tragedy has shocked both Finland and Estonia, as the aviation community mourns the loss of five lives in what has been described as a catastrophic and sudden accident.

This incident follows another recent aviation tragedy in Japan, where a medical helicopter crashed into the sea, killing three people and injuring three others.