A helicopter crashed near the island Naissaar, 5 km off the shore on Wednesday, August 10 before 13.00. The Copterline helicopter Sikorsky S-76C+ was on its way from Tallinn to Helsinki.
The flight control station lost contact with the helicopter crew at 12.43, three minutes after the departure from Tallinn.
There were twelve passengers (6 Finnish, 4 Estonian and 2 U.S. citizens) and two Finnish crew members on the flight.
The Estonian Maritime Administration sonar found the wreck of the helicopter, the location of which has been marked. The coordinates of the object found are 59 degrees and 32.5529 minutes and 024 degrees and 43.8754 minutes. It is 1.8 miles off the shore and located at a depth of 45 meters in the sea.
The helicopter rescue operations that began on the 10th of August are being continued on the 13th of August. Thirteen of the crash victims have been brought to the surface by the Estonian and Finnish divers as well as the wreck of the helicopter. One body is still missing.
Based on information gathered by the divers, the rescue operation leader in co-operation with Ministry of Interior specialists, the Minster of Interior and the Commander of the Merikarhu decided to first bring the people who were on the flight to the surface and then bring the helicopter itself.
At the time of the accident the wind was blowing from the east at 6 m/s.
A special commission has been formed at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications to investigate the accident. The State Prosecutor's Office has initiated necessary criminal proceedings.
The police have contacted the family members of all the passangers on board. The following Estonian, Finnish and U.S citizens were on board of the helicopter:
Seppo Antero Peurala (b 1948)
Jarkko Varjo (b 1961)
Liisa Suuster (b 1983)
Carolina Kremenetski (b 1983)
Tapio Hannes Kuikko (b 1951)
Ari Kalevi Seger (b 1954)
Onni Matti Kopperi (b 1944)
Seija Marjut Ruotsalainen (b 1952)
Pentti Olavi Vainio (b 1946)
Kristel Soll (b 1965)
Ruta Kruuda (b 1967)
Lydia Riis Hamburgen (b 1918)
Mary Elizabeth Hamburgen (b 1958)
The families of the passengers from other countries have been informed by the authorities of the respective country.
For information on the passengers and crew call the info hotlines:
(+372) 628 7425
1345 (for calls from Estonia only)
Interior Ministry Communications Centre:
Tel: (+372) 612 5033, (+372) 612 5032
The audio files of the press conferences at the Ministry of Interior August 10, and August 11.
PRESS SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFARIS OF ESTONIA
(+372) 6317 654
(+372) 50 94 645
[email protected]
The flight control station lost contact with the helicopter crew at 12.43, three minutes after the departure from Tallinn.
There were twelve passengers (6 Finnish, 4 Estonian and 2 U.S. citizens) and two Finnish crew members on the flight.
The Estonian Maritime Administration sonar found the wreck of the helicopter, the location of which has been marked. The coordinates of the object found are 59 degrees and 32.5529 minutes and 024 degrees and 43.8754 minutes. It is 1.8 miles off the shore and located at a depth of 45 meters in the sea.
The helicopter rescue operations that began on the 10th of August are being continued on the 13th of August. Thirteen of the crash victims have been brought to the surface by the Estonian and Finnish divers as well as the wreck of the helicopter. One body is still missing.
Based on information gathered by the divers, the rescue operation leader in co-operation with Ministry of Interior specialists, the Minster of Interior and the Commander of the Merikarhu decided to first bring the people who were on the flight to the surface and then bring the helicopter itself.
At the time of the accident the wind was blowing from the east at 6 m/s.
A special commission has been formed at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications to investigate the accident. The State Prosecutor's Office has initiated necessary criminal proceedings.
The police have contacted the family members of all the passangers on board. The following Estonian, Finnish and U.S citizens were on board of the helicopter:
Seppo Antero Peurala (b 1948)
Jarkko Varjo (b 1961)
Liisa Suuster (b 1983)
Carolina Kremenetski (b 1983)
Tapio Hannes Kuikko (b 1951)
Ari Kalevi Seger (b 1954)
Onni Matti Kopperi (b 1944)
Seija Marjut Ruotsalainen (b 1952)
Pentti Olavi Vainio (b 1946)
Kristel Soll (b 1965)
Ruta Kruuda (b 1967)
Lydia Riis Hamburgen (b 1918)
Mary Elizabeth Hamburgen (b 1958)
The families of the passengers from other countries have been informed by the authorities of the respective country.
For information on the passengers and crew call the info hotlines:
(+372) 628 7425
1345 (for calls from Estonia only)
Interior Ministry Communications Centre:
Tel: (+372) 612 5033, (+372) 612 5032
The audio files of the press conferences at the Ministry of Interior August 10, and August 11.
PRESS SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFARIS OF ESTONIA
(+372) 6317 654
(+372) 50 94 645
[email protected]
