- Helicopter crashed into Loch Scadavay in North Uist on Wednesday morning
- A 58-year-old man died in the crash, he was the only one on board
- Helicopter was flying for the Scottish Salmon Company at the time
- Wreckage was left lying in the loch for an hour after it crashed
A man died when his commercial helicopter crashed into a loch in Scotland’s Western Isles.
The 58-year-old was the only one on board the helicopter when it ditched in Loch Scadavay in North Uist about 10:15am on Wednesday.
The AS350 Squirrel was working for the Scottish Salmon Company when it crashed but was not carrying fish, its owner said.
A man died when his commercial helicopter crashed into a loch in Scotland’s Western Isles
The company has numerous sites in the Outer Hebrides including a major hatchery at Langass which is near Loch Scadavay.
Residents said the helicopter was used for tours to St Kilda and for work on fish farms, and was lying in the loch for an hour after it crashed.
Local MP Angus MacNeil tweeted: ‘Devastating and concerning news about the helicopter near Lochmaddy in North Uist ….thoughts to all involved and those who are helping on the scene.’
PDG Aviation Services confirmed it owned the aircraft and it was flying for the Scottish Salmon Company, but not carrying salmon.
The 58-year-old was the only one on board the helicopter when it ditched in Loch Scadavay in North Uist about 10:15am on Wednesday
The AS350 Squirrel was working for the Scottish Salmon Company, which has numerous sites in the Outer Hebrides including a major hatchery near Loch Scadavay (pictured)
‘We want to work with the authorities to help in investigation and find out exactly what happened,’ it said.
Western Isles area commander Chief Inspector Ian Graham said police were liaising with the Air Accidents Investigation Bureau to find out what happened.
The AAIB confirmed it sent a team to comb the crash site for clues as to what caused the fatal crash.
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