Police Helicopter crash in Scotland

What a terrible situation and I believe I speak for all POE members in offering sincere condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives during what was effectively a night down the Pub!

It seems there are at least eight who have been killed as the Police helicopter fell out of the sky and crashed into a pub called 'The Clutha'. There are many injured apparently, but as things stand they are struggling to secure the site stating that there could be more bodies under the rubble.

One can only speculate as to the cause of the crash but with no explosion, no fire does that mean it literally ran out of fuel, or was it shot down by criminals, the mind wanders and wonders!

Sincere thanks also to our emergency services throughout the UK who deal with such incidents.

What say you members, or are there any specialists amongst us who would care to speculate on the cause?

May I echo your first paragraph Ron, very tragic.

As for the cause one eye witness said he heard it spluttering like a car running out of fuel, but who knows, time will tell I'm sure.

As for helicopters in general they terrify me, unless it was a matter of life and death you wouldn't get me in one. I once had the chance to go in the West Yorkshire Police one, I politely declined, then vanished before the ask turned into an order. 

It's always an absolute tradgedy when these sort of incidents occur even with only 1 person killed, let alone 8 or possibly more. I'm sure we all feel for all the families involved and have our sympathies.

The AAIB indicate it could be up to a year to determine the cause and their report on it and be very extensive as they usually are. They are very compliated these days, but one possibility perhaps might be gearbox failure??? The rotor wasn't turning very fast as it came down.

The Eurocopter EC-135 involved is similar to the one our local air ambulance service uses daily, which I support every month, for the lives it has saved over the years. Here it is in service, yet again, in Thatcham taking an injured young boy to hospital in Oxford.   

Picture by Paul Hilton

Of  all the places that this helicopter could have crashed it had to be on the roof of this pub with people inside enjoying themselves I extend my condolences to the families concerned.

This pub is famous for the number of well known bands that perform on a regular basis there.

I enclose a web link for a campaign for a band to perform in Glasgow under the name of Christ Agony I dont know if they where to play at this venue or not but if they where then there are very chilling undertones surrounding this tradgedy.

 https://detour.songkick.com/metro_areas/24473/artists/39815/campaign

Then take a look at the type of music Christ Agony is involved with this can be viewed on Youtube just type in Youtube Christ Agony or use this link in particular take note of his Logo.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk4yphaKNfg