A commercial helicopter crashed into a construction crane and fell on a street in central London during rush hour, killing two people and injuring at least 13 others according to the Associated Press. The event created a scene similar to that of a bomb explosion according to at least one eyewitness.
"I was standing outside having a cigarette when I saw the helicopter flying super fast towards the crane," said Rezart Islami, a builder who was working across the street according to the Associated Press. "The pilot appeared not to have seen the crane because the helicopter hit it and went bang."
Thick flames and smoke emerged from the sky as traffic below stopped suddenly so emergency workers could reach the scene. The crash took place not far from London tourist attractions like the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye according to CNN.
The pilot of the helicopter who was killed in the crash has been identified as Peter Barnes, married father of two according to Reuters. Barnes was flying the helicopter when it hit a dangling crane working on top of a building. He was only person aboard the helicopter at the time.
"He was one of the most highly qualified and highly skilled helicopter pilots in the UK, and his death is a great loss for the British aviation and his colleagues at Rotormotion," spokesman Paul Blezard said. "The thoughts of all the staff are with this family and two young children at this dreadful time."
The helicopter's rotor blade reportedly "snapped off," causing the helicopter to spin into the ground and burst into flames ABCNews.go.com.
The second person killed during the ordeal was "in close proximity" to the location according to a London Ambulance Service spokeswoman. One of the individuals injured during the ordeal suffered a broken leg, but the others were not seriously hurt.
At least three people were rescued from two burning vehicles according to CNN.
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