All the occupants of the helicopter escaped unharmed. Photo: Llanberis MRT
More than 30 mountain rescue team members were called out after a military helicopter caught fire after a forced landing on a Snowdonia peak.
The Defence Helicopter Flying School Griffin aircraft developed a technical fault and its crew made a precautionary landing on Yr Aran, north-east of Beddgelert.
All five people on board the helicopter managed to escape from the aircraft before it burst into flames. The aircraft was destroyed in the blaze.
North Wales Police called for assistance from Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team about 1.45pm on Tuesday.
A team spokesperson said: “As the team were already attending two other incidents involving walkers on Snowdon we requested further assistance from neighbouring teams, Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team and Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation.
“Two Coastguard search and rescue aircraft were also deployed from their bases in Caernarfon and St Athan.
One of the Llanberis MRT vehicles at the scene as smoke rises from the peak in the distance. Photo: Llanberis MRT
“The unhurt air crew were recovered by the North Wales Air Ambulance, who happened to be passing in the area, to the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team base in Nant Peris. Five Llanberis team members made their way to the aircraft location to help secure the site and await the arrival of RAF mountain rescue personnel who are specifically trained to attend air-crash incidents.”
Chief Inspector Nick Evans of North Wales Police said: “Just before 1.45pm today emergency services attended to reports of a helicopter crash landing in the Yr Aran area of Snowdon.
“The Wales Air Ambulance in partnership with the Welsh Ambulance Service attended the location along with North Wales Police and mountain rescue teams.
The charred remains of the aircraft on the summit of Yr Aran. Photo: Llanberis MRT
“It transpires that an RAF training helicopter from RAF Valley safely completed a precautionary landing in Snowdonia this afternoon following a technical issue.
“All occupants of the aircraft exited safely before the aircraft caught fire.”
The Llanberis MRT spokesperson said: “This incident involved 25 Llanberis rescue team personnel and 10 from neighbouring teams. The two other incidents attended to by Llanberis MRT this afternoon involved a male walker with a broken leg on the Watkin path and a male walker with a broken wrist on the Pyg track.
“Other agencies who responded to this incident include North Wales Ambulance Service, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and North Wales Police.
“Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team have attended 19 incidents so far this month and would like to extend thanks to Aberglaslyn Mountain Rescue Team and Ogwen Mountain Rescue Organisation for their continued support during this exceptionally busy period.”
Yr Aran is a 747m (2,451ft) outlier of the Snowdon massif, 3km (2 miles) south of the main Snowdon summit.
