Five people lost their lives on Saturday following a tragic mid-air collision between two helicopters near Eura Airport in southwestern Finland.
According to Finnish police, the accident occurred shortly after noon near the town of Kauttua. The wreckage was discovered in a wooded area approximately 700 meters from Ohikulkutie road.
Detective Chief Inspector Johannes Siirilä of Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation confirmed the fatalities, stating that each helicopter had multiple occupants—two in one, and three in the other.
Both helicopters were reportedly registered outside Finland, one in Estonia and the other in Austria, and were owned by Estonian firms NOBE and Eleon, according to a report from ERR citing Helsingin Sanomat.
The aircraft were en route to a hobby aviation event organized by the Pori Aviation Club, Finnish broadcaster Yle News reported.
Authorities from Finland and Estonia have launched a joint investigation, led by the National Bureau of Investigation, to determine the cause of the crash.