8 Die When Police Helicopter Crashes into Pub

30 Nov, 2013

Scottish authorities raised the death toll to eight people Saturday in the crash of a police helicopter into a crowded Glasgow pub, stressing that a rescue and recovery operation is ongoing and it is unclear what they will find when the aircraft’s wreckage is moved.

The higher death toll was news that “everybody had been both dreading and expecting,” Scottish Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said.

Chief Constable Stephen House said three of the dead were found in the helicopter, which was carrying two police officers and a civilian pilot when it crashed through the roof of The Clutha pub late Friday.

The Clutha pub, near the banks of the River Clyde, was packed Friday night and a ska band was in full swing when the chopper slammed through the roof.

Police said there were “well over” 100 people inside the bar at the time of the crash, listening to the music stylings of local ska band Esperanza on the eve of St. Andrew’s Day, Scotland’s official national holiday.

Queen Elizabeth II said her thoughts and prayers were with the victims, while Prime Minister David Cameron offered to support the Scottish government “in any way” and praised emergency services plus “the bravery of ordinary Glaswegians” who rushed to help.

It was not immediately clear what the helicopter was doing in the area prior to the crash. Police and air safety investigators say it’s too early to say or speculate on why the Eurocopter EC135 T2 helicopter came down on the pub’s roof, close to a helipad on the riverbank.

Glasgow, a city of about 600,000 people, has transformed its traditional image of being a rough and tumble city to one with a vibrant music and arts scene. It was also among the cities that hosted Olympic soccer matches in 2012 and will hold the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

AP

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