US air force helicopter crashes in Norfolk, killing at least four people

US base at nearby RAF Lakenheath confirms HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crashed while training on north Norfolk coast

At least four people have been killed after a US military helicopter crashed during a training exercise close to the Norfolk coast.

The incident involved a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter, a derivative of the better-known Black Hawk helicopter, whose primary role is to transport special forces and for combat search and rescue.

A 400m area was cordoned off by Norfolk police following the incident in Cley-next-the-Sea, in the north of the county, shortly before 8pm and local people were told to stay clear.

The crash site is not far from RAF Lakenheath, the location of a US air force base involved in international operations. The base is home to the USAF’s 48th Fighter Wing, also known as the Liberty Wing, which is integral to US air strength in Europe, and is also believed to be involved in anti-terrorism operations.

The 48th Air Wing “We can confirm that one of our HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters was involved in an incident during a training mission outside Cley-next-the-sea.”

The 48th Fighter Wing, also known as the Liberty Wing, is assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE).

In addition to HH-60G Pave Hawks, it is home to squadrons of F-15 Eagle tactical fighter planes and F-15E Strike Eagle dual-role fighters. Local reports said that residents had heard F-15 planes flying over the scene of the crash.

The cause of the crash was initially unclear although Richard Kelham, chairman of Cley parish council, said it looked as though the helicopter had come down in the middle of a bird reserve.

Norfolk police said: “Police are currently dealing with a single helicopter crash in the Cley area, on the north Norfolk coast. There are believed to be four fatalities. Officers are on the scene, with a 400-metre area cordoned off.”

A spokesman for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution said: “We were asked for three lifeboats to respond to reports that an aircraft had possibly ditched in the sea.

“Lifeboats Wells, Sheringham and Cromer were launched at the request of the coastguard but were stood down when it was confirmed that the aircraft had come down over land.”

A spokesman for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution said: “We were asked for three lifeboats to respond to reports that an aircraft had possibly ditched in the sea. Lifeboats Wells, Sheringham and Cromer were launched at the request of the coastguard but were stood down when it was confirmed that the aircraft had come down over land.”

Around a dozen emergency vehicles from the fire brigade, coastguard and police are at the scene.

Cley artist Rachel Lockwood, from the village’s Pinkfoot Gallery, said: “We had never seen so many police cars and fire engines, so went to have a look.

“The beach road to Cley is sealed off. There are lots of fire engines near the Dun Cow pub at Salthouse. A helicopter is hovering over the marsh with a light beaming down.”

Cley is a picturesque village, one mile east of Blakeney and …read more