Five individuals lost their lives on Saturday, May 17, 2025, when two helicopters collided mid-air and crashed into a forested area close to Eura Airport in south-western Finland.
Tis is according to information released by Finnish police.
The tragic incident took place shortly after midday on Saturday, in the vicinity of Kauttua, a small town near the airport.
Authorities stated that the wreckage from the helicopters was discovered around 700 meters from the Ohikulkutie road, suggesting a violent impact and subsequent fall from the sky.
Detective Chief Inspector Johannes Siirilä, representing Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), officially confirmed the fatalities in a public statement.
“Five people have died in a helicopter accident near Eura Airport on Saturday,” he said, emphasizing the severity of the event and the immediate loss of life.
Initial media coverage reported that both helicopters had departed from Estonia and were transporting business individuals.
One helicopter carried three people, while the second carried two.
Though the identities of the victims have not been released, the composition suggests all on board were killed instantly in the collision and crash.
According to Finnish newspaper Iltalehti, eyewitness Antti Marjanen observed the crash in real time.
He provided a harrowing account of what he saw, noting that one helicopter appeared to strike the other during an aerial maneuver.
“One of them dropped like a stone and the other one more slowly.
“I didn’t hear any sound,” Marjanen told reporters.
This information indicated that the collision might have been silent and sudden, without warning noises or explosions.
It also indicated that the collision likely left little time for evasive action.
Further reports clarified the ownership and origin of the helicopters.
One was registered in Estonia and the other in Austria, as detailed in a report by Estonian Public Broadcasting, which cited Helsingin Sanomat, one of Finland’s leading newspapers.
Despite their different national registrations, both helicopters belonged to Estonian companies.
One of the aircraft was owned by NOBE, a construction and real estate firm, while the other was operated by Eleon, a company involved in the energy sector.
These connections lend weight to the belief that the helicopters were transporting businesspeople between destinations.
The helicopters were reportedly en route to participate in a recreational aviation event, according to the Pori Aviation Club.
This detail suggests that the flight was not commercial or military in nature.
Instead, it was supposedly part of a private or leisure-oriented activity involving small aircraft enthusiasts.
In response to the fatal crash, the National Bureau of Investigation has taken the lead on a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
They are working closely with local police to conduct a thorough inquiry.
Authorities have confirmed that both Finnish and Estonian officials are involved in the investigation, reflecting the cross-border nature of the flight and the multinational ownership of the helicopters.
The cooperation between the Finnish and Estonian governments highlights the seriousness with which the incident is being treated.
Investigators are expected to examine flight data, maintenance records, pilot experience, and communication logs, among other technical and operational factors, to determine the precise cause of the crash.
As the investigation proceeds, more information is expected to be released.
This is especially regarding the identities of the deceased and any technical issues that may have contributed to the accident.
For now, the focus reportedly remains on:
- recovering evidence,
- supporting the families of the victims, and,
- ensuring a full understanding of how two helicopters flying in the same airspace came to such a tragic end.
The aviation and business communities in both Finland and Estonia are mourning the loss.
This is as officials work to piece together the final moments of the flight and prevent similar accidents in the future.
