RAF Sea King makes emergency landing in Devizes after pilot taken ill (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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RAF Sea King makes emergency landing in Devizes after pilot taken ill
4:53pm Friday 11th January 2013 in News By Annie Richards, News editor
An RAF Sea King helicopter similar to the one that was forced to make an emergency landing
An RAF Sea King helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in Devizes on Wednesday evening after the pilot was taken ill.
Police in Devizes were alerted at 6.20pm by RAF Search and Rescue of the unfolding drama after the helicopter put out a Mayday signal.
The aircraft landed in a field close to the A361 at Hopton, near to The Bike School.
Police say four people were on board and the pilot was taken by land ambulance to Swindon’s Great Western Hospital.
A householder living in nearby Norton Drive heard the helicopter coming in very low over houses close to the marina.
She said: “The noise was deafening. From what I have heard the pilot was taken ill at the controls and the other people on board had to prise his hands from the controls.”
The condition of the pilot is unknown, but the other people on board were able to continue their journey safely.
