Scotland helicopter crash: Man dies after aircraft ditches in Western Isles loch

No other people are believed to have been on board

The AS350 Squirrel aircraft ditched in a loch between Lochmaddy and Clachan Na Luib on North Uist (Google Maps)

A man has died after a helicopter ditched in a loch in the Western Isles off the coast of Scotland.

Police said the AS350 Squirrel aircraft ditched in a loch between Lochmaddy and Clachan Na Luib on North Uist on Wednesday morning. No other people are believed to have been on board the helicopter other than the man, who was 58-years-old.

The helicopter was working for the Scottish Salmon Company at the time.

Officers from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are travelling to the scene.

Chief Inspector Ian Graham, Area Commander for the Western Isles, said: “Firstly, our thoughts are with the man’s family and the local community at this difficult time.

“Our inquiries into this are ongoing and we are liaising with other agencies, including the Air Accidents Investigation Bureau, in order to establish the full circumstances.”

Police and ambulance crews attended the crash, which forced the closure of local roads for a time.

A spokesman for PDG Aviation, the helicopter’s owners, told the Press Association: “I am able to confirm it was one of our aircraft.

“It was out working at the time for the Scottish Salmon Company, but it was not carrying salmon.”

The spokesman said they want to work with the authorities to help in the investigation and find out exactly what happened.

The man’s next of kin have been informed.