Five people died late Monday in what Norwegian authorities are calling the worst helicopter accident the country has ever had over land.
According to reports, eight members of a family hired a Aerospatiale 350 helicopter from Airlift to travel to a remote area of the Ullensvang Mountains where they planned to build a cabin. The first four family members arrived safely Monday afternoon and witnessed the helicopter crash upon returning with their remaining family members. Oyvind Rossland of the Hardanger Police District said one of the witnesses had to climb to higher ground to call for help.
“This is an extremely tragic accident that has hit a family and several local communities very hard. The accident will be investigated and we now must wait for the results,” Rossland told Norwegian Broadcasting.
The crash victims have been identified as Kjetil Bu, 27; Karianne Ringkjøb Dahl, 29; Siv Holtan, 18; Andreas Søvik Fossmark, 32; and Airlift pilot Tore Bendigtsen Ystanes, 39.
Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority officer Gudmund Taraldsen said the cause of the crash has not been determined, but “poor weather” may have been a factor. "This is the worst helicopter accident we have ever had over land,” he said.
Airlift canceled all flights Tuesday. “We have decided not to operate today. Our biggest priority are the survivors who have lost their loved ones,” a company rep said.
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