Emergency services responded to a helicopter crash-landing in a field this afternoon in Greater Manchester. The pilot made an emergency landing in a rural area near Beaumont Road in the Lostock area of Bolton, following trouble with the helicopter. Firefighters and an air ambulance were dispatched to the scene. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the aircraft spinning and falling from the sky.
A spokesperson from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service stated that firefighters from multiple stations were called to the scene to assist with the emergency landing. Police confirmed that air accident investigators are looking into the incident. The pilot, a man in his 60s, sustained minor injuries during the gyrocopter’s forced landing.
The gyrocopter experienced difficulties, leading to a hard landing after the propeller was struck mid-air. Witnesses described hearing the aircraft’s engine trouble before the crash. The gyrocopter, a type of rotorcraft utilizing an unpowered rotor, landed safely in the field with the pilot unharmed.
Authorities clarified that the incident was a forced landing rather than a crash. Video footage captured the gyrocopter spinning and losing control before the emergency landing. The pilot’s safety was confirmed, and investigations are ongoing.
Eyewitnesses on social media recounted the helicopter’s descent, and flight paths showed emergency response units arriving at the scene. Greater Manchester Police have not released an official statement regarding the incident.