A report into last year’s Vauxhall helicopter crash revealed safety fears had been raised four years before the tragedy.
Pilot Pete Barnes, 50, and pedestrian Matthew Wood, 39, were killed in the crash in January 2013, which also injured 12 people on the ground.
Pilot Pete Barnes
Mr Barnes was flying to Battersea Heliport, in fog, when the chopper clipped the crane on St George’s Wharf tower in the Nine Elms development area.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report into the crash, published yesterday by the Department for Transport, suggests it could have been prevented.
The report said the operators of London Heliport expressed their concern of a potential collision to the Civil Aviation Authority in 2009.
Julian Firth, principal inspector at the AAIB, said: “The investigation found that the pilot of the helicopter was probably unable to remain continuously clear of cloud as the helicopter approached Vauxhall Bridge and probably unaware of the helicopter’s proximity to the building.
Pedestrian Matthew Wood, from Sutton, was killed in the crash
“He didn’t see the crane or saw it too late to avoid it and his decision to proceed to London Heliport, while unable to remain clear of cloud, may have been a contributing factor.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel