On Saturday, May 17, near Eura Airport in Finland, a tragic aviation accident occurred, resulting in the deaths of five individuals. The collision involved two helicopters, carrying a total of five occupants: three on one aircraft and two on the other one. Both helicopters were registered abroad—one in Estonia and the other one in Austria—but were owned by Estonian companies, NOBE and Eleon, respectively.

According to initial reports, the passengers were primarily Estonian businessmen en route to attend an amateur flying gathering organized by the Pori Aviation Club. Among the eyewitness accounts, Antti Marjanen reported observing the collision during an aerial maneuver: one helicopter plummeted rapidly to the ground while the other one lost altitude more gradually. Notably, the witness emphasized the absence of any perceptible collision noises.

Finnish authorities, led by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) with Chief Commissioner Johannes Siirilä, are actively collaborating with local police and Estonian institutions to conduct a detailed joint investigation. The objective is to reconstruct the accident dynamics, identify causes, and assign any responsibilities.

Meanwhile, the accident site has been cordoned off and secured to facilitate recovery operations of the aircraft wreckage and victims, as well as to conduct thorough technical surveys. This incident represents a serious event in the light aviation sector and raises critical questions regarding the safety of amateur flights and the management of operations near regional airports. Investigations will continue in the coming days to provide comprehensive answers about the circumstances of the event.