Helicopter crash latest: Three people confirmed to have died in crash during flying lesson

Thanks for following our coverage, we're pausing live updates for now.

Here's a summary of what's happened today:

• Three people have died after a helicopter crashed in a field on the Isle of Wight;
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed that four were on board, and one person remains in serious condition;
• The force was called at 9.24am to the scene, near the A3020 Shanklin Road;

• One witness said she saw the chopper "spiralling" before coming down at a hedge near the road;
• And a local editor said the crash came on a busy bank holiday on the island, with tourists packing the area.

Authorities have now confirmed three people have died in the helicopter crash.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said: "We can confirm that three people have died following a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight this morning.

"Four people in total were on board, with one person currently in hospital in a serious condition.

"At this time we are unable to provide further information about the people involved, as efforts continue to contact and support their families.

"We will not be commenting on the circumstances of the incident but continue to work alongside the Air Accident Investigation Branch."

There are several emergency vehicles at the scene of the crash, with investigations under way.

More than seven hours after the helicopter came down, here is what each service has said about the incident:

Northumbria Helicopters

The operator of the aircraft that crashed said: "Northumbria Helicopters confirms aircraft G-OCLV was involved in an accident in the Shanklin area on the Isle of Wight.

"The flight, which departed from Sandown Airport at approximately 9am was carrying four passengers on board including the pilot, and was undertaking a flying lesson.

"Northumbria Helicopters is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident.

"Northumbria Helicopters will release further information in due course."

Hampshire Police

The force said: "We were called at 9.24am to a report that a helicopter had come down in a field near the A3020 Shanklin Road.

"The road is closed due to the number of emergency services vehicles at the scene, so please avoid the area at this time.

"A major incident was called at 9.47am to support the coordination of the emergency response, but this has since been stood down."

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance

The group said: "We can confirm our dispatchers deployed the air ambulance at 9.28am to an incident near Ventnor on the Isle of Wight today.

"The critical care team consisting of a doctor and a specialist paramedic are on scene working alongside our emergency service colleagues."

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service

A spokeswoman said: "Firefighters from Newport, Ventnor and Shanklin were called out shortly before 9.30am on Monday, 25 August, following reports of a light aircraft incident near Shanklin Road."

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch

The AAIB said: "The AAIB was notified of an accident involving a light helicopter on the Isle of Wight this morning.

"We are deploying a team to commence an investigation."

The helicopter came down in a field near a busy road on the Isle of Wight.

A local journalist told us earlier it's "incredible" no vehicles on the ground were affected by the crash, which happened on a "busy" bank holiday.

In the posts below, we shared images from above, while the video at the top of this page shows some of the wreckage and the aftermath.

Below, our team there has sent in this picture from the road block, which will remain in place for the time being as investigations get under way.

Northumbria Helicopters has confirmed one of its aircraft was involved in the crash on the Isle of Wight this morning. 

The operator said its G-OCLV model left Sandown Airport at around 9am, with four passengers on board, including the pilot.

It was a flying lesson, the firm said. 

"Northumbria Helicopters is giving its full cooperation to the authorities investigating this incident," it added.

"Northumbria Helicopters will release further information in due course."

Many details remain unclear in the helicopter crash, but investigators are still working at the scene. 

Hampshire Police have put out this update in the past few minutes:

We were called at 9.24am to a report that a helicopter had come down in a field near the A3020 Shanklin Road.

The road is closed due to the number of emergency services vehicles at the scene, so please avoid the area at this time.

A major incident was called at 9.47am to support the coordination of the emergency response but this has since been stood down.

There has been a multi-agency response to the scene, including colleagues from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, and the Air Accident Investigation Branch.

We'll bring more details as they emerge.

This was the scene on the A3020 on the Isle of Wight after the helicopter crash.

Police and other emergency vehicles could be seen arriving and blocking off the road.

The details of the crash are still coming to light, with an investigation only just beginning.

Here's what we know so far:

• Police and paramedics were called just before 9.30am to a report of a helicopter crash near the A3020 Shanklin Road on the Isle of Wight;
• The air ambulance service said one person was flown to hospital in Southampton;
• One witness said she saw the chopper "spiralling" before coming down at a hedge near the road;
• The crash came on a busy bank holiday on the island, according to a local editor, with tourists packing the area.

And here's what we don't know:

• Authorities have not confirmed how many people were on the helicopter;
• It's not clear what condition they are in;
• We do not know what the cause of the crash was - and while we may get a provisional idea within days, the full investigation will take longer.

The helicopter crashed on a busy bank holiday weekend - and it's "incredible" no vehicles on the ground were affected, according to a local editor.

Darren Toogood, editor and publisher at Island Echo, told us they believe four people were on the aircraft when it crashed near a busy road on the Isle of Wight. 

He told our presenter Kamali Melbourne it may have been a "sightseeing" flight.

"It was on one of the first flights of the day," he said.

"The incident occurred between the village of Gold Hill and the seaside town of Shanklin.

"It's a bank holiday weekend in August on the Isle of Wight. It's an incredibly busy area. Lots of tourists down at the moment."

Shanklin is "your typical seaside town" full of holidaymakers at this time of the year, he said.

"So this is a significantly busy road. High speed road... it appears no vehicles were involved," he added.

"Which is incredible, given how busy this road would have been this morning."

The Air Accident Investigation Branch is sending a team to the Isle of Wight.

A spokesman said: "The AAIB was notified of an accident involving a light helicopter on the Isle of Wight this morning.

"We are deploying a team to commence an investigation."