A helicopter has crashed at Hobart airport this evening, with one passenger dead and another critically injured.
All flights out of the airport have been halted after the aircraft suddenly came to ground around 5.30pm. It is still unclear whether the helicopter was taking off or landing when the crash occurred.
First photos of the helicopter crash at Hobart Airport. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN #mercurybreakingnews https://t.co/K1Vk9a8YX1 pic.twitter.com/oBb3M9GEJy
— Mercury (@themercurycomau) November 7, 2017
The aircraft is believed to be a single engine AS350BA Squirrel helicopter allegedly being flown by Rotorlift, an operator of the Tasmania Police Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
A spokesperson for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has released the following statement:
A team of two Transport Safety Investigators from Brisbane and Canberra will travel to the site shortly to begin their investigation.
The ATSB encourages anyone who witnessed the accident to call 1800 020 616.
No further information about the accident is available at this time.
A witness has told The Mercury the helicopter was flying at tree height before before performing a loop and descending into a nose dive.
More to come.
