Helicopter carrying 13 crashes into HK harbor
Source: Agencies |
July 4, 2010, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TWO pilots and 11 passengers on board a helicopter traveling to Macau survived an emergency landing into Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor minutes after takeoff yesterday.
All 13 on board the Italianmade AgustaWestland AW139 suffered only light injuries and were released from the hospital later yesterday, the Hong Kong government said in a statement.
The pilots executed an emergency landing after noticing a mechanical problem that created a loud noise minutes into the journey, said Leung Yu-keung, acting head of the Civil Aviation Department.
They were able to avoid a plunge into the harbor because the pilots deployed inflatable buoys before the aircraft hit the water, Leung said.
Hong Kong's Cable TV quoted an unidentified witness as saying the helicopter fell onto the harbor at an angle.
The Civil Aviation Department ordered operator Sky Shuttle to ground all of its AW139 helicopters for inspections and suspend its services to Macau.
Marine traffic has not been affected by the accident, said the city's Marine Department.
The helicopter trip is a pricey alternative to the commonly used high-speed ferry service to Macau, with each one-way flight costing HK$2,600 (US$333) per person.
All 13 on board the Italianmade AgustaWestland AW139 suffered only light injuries and were released from the hospital later yesterday, the Hong Kong government said in a statement.
The pilots executed an emergency landing after noticing a mechanical problem that created a loud noise minutes into the journey, said Leung Yu-keung, acting head of the Civil Aviation Department.
They were able to avoid a plunge into the harbor because the pilots deployed inflatable buoys before the aircraft hit the water, Leung said.
Hong Kong's Cable TV quoted an unidentified witness as saying the helicopter fell onto the harbor at an angle.
The Civil Aviation Department ordered operator Sky Shuttle to ground all of its AW139 helicopters for inspections and suspend its services to Macau.
Marine traffic has not been affected by the accident, said the city's Marine Department.
The helicopter trip is a pricey alternative to the commonly used high-speed ferry service to Macau, with each one-way flight costing HK$2,600 (US$333) per person.
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