Five individuals were killed on May 17, 2025, following a mid-air collision involving two helicopters near Eura Airport in southwestern Finland. The accident took place shortly after noon local time near Kauttua, with the debris landing roughly 2,300 feet from the Ohikulkutie road.
Detective Chief Inspector Johannes Siirilä of Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation stated, “Five people have died in a helicopter accident near Eura airport on Saturday.”
Police reports indicate that the helicopters departed from Tallinn, Estonia, and were headed to a hobby aviation event at the Piikajärvi Flight Center in Kokemäki, about 9 miles from Eura. One helicopter carried three passengers, while the other had two on board.
According to Finnish newspaper Iltalehti, witness Antti Marjanen saw one helicopter collide with the other during a maneuver. Marjanen observed one helicopter descending quickly and the other descending more slowly, noting the absence of any noise during the collision.
Martin Noorsalu, a seasoned helicopter pilot and flight instructor involved in the investigation, explained that when helicopters fly in tandem, a separation of 164 feet is generally adequate for safety. Noorsalu stressed the importance of pilots remaining vigilant about each other’s movements when flying in formation. He mentioned that the investigation would explore several potential causes, such as technical faults, human error, and external influences like bird strikes.
Details from the crash site showed that the wreckage of the helicopters was scattered approximately 328 feet apart in the forested area. Rescue and police teams were dispatched to the scene following reports of the collision at 12:35 p.m. local time.
Investigation reports reveal that the helicopters were flying at an altitude of about 984 feet and maintained a distance of around 164 feet when one abruptly changed course, resulting in the collision.
The helicopters involved were Robinson R-44 models, with one registered in Estonia and the other in Austria. Both belonged to Estonian companies, with one owned by NOBE and the other by Eleon.
The deceased were reportedly Estonian businesspeople en route to the aviation event, which was expected to feature around 20 aircraft and 50 participants over the course of the day.
Finnish authorities have secured the crash site as the investigation proceeds. The remains of the helicopters have been transported to Turku for thorough examination, and autopsies of the victims are being conducted there as well.
The National Bureau of Investigation is heading a joint inquiry with local police to uncover the cause of the collision. Finnish and Estonian officials are collaborating to obtain more details about those on board and the pilots’ backgrounds.
The Safety Investigation Authority reported that the flight recorders from both helicopters sustained significant damage. One recorder was completely destroyed, while the other had stopped recording at some point during the flight, preventing access to its most recent data.
Authorities from both nations noted that the investigation could take up to 12 months as they work to ascertain whether human error, technical malfunction, or a combination of factors was responsible.
The Finnish Safety Investigation Authority has started its detailed examination of the crash site and will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the mid-air collision.
