Helicopter crashes near Shanklin Road on Isle of Wight; crews respond

A helicopter has crashed into a field on the Isle of Wight near Shanklin Road, triggering a major multi-agency emergency response. Police said the incident occurred shortly after 9am, prompting road closures and a large spread of ambulances, fire crews and search-and-rescue units to the scene. No information on casualties had been released as responders worked to secure the area and assess the situation.

The crash site is described as a field near the A3020 Shanklin Road, with Shanklin Road itself closed to traffic between Whiteley Bank and Apse Manor Road as emergency services converged. The operation involved several agencies: the Hampshire Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and the Coastguard Rescue 175 from Lee-on-Solent were dispatched to the scene, alongside multiple fire engines and several ambulances. A command and rapid-response medical team were also deployed to support on-the-ground responders.

Police provided the first formal account of the incident, saying: “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...