Two killed in helicopter crash

Two people were killed in a helicopter crash yesterday, police said.

A mayday signal was first sent from the craft as it flew over Poulton-le-Fylde, near Blackpool, in Lancashire, at around 12.10 p.m.

Around 40 minutes later the aircraft was located at Barnaby Sands, an area of salt marsh on the Lancashire coast near Fleetwood.

Two people were believed to be on board and both casualties were confirmed dead at the scene of the crash, Lancashire Police said.

Emergency services were soon at the scene to carry out a recovery operation.

Police said later the two fatalities were both male, but their families were yet to be informed and identities could not be released.

It is not yet known what caused the crash but locals said the weather at the time was sunny with a slight wind. Lancashire Police said the helicopter was on a training flight with a pilot. The learner was the passenger.