Dual helicopter crash hits Berlin
A police officer works at the scene where two police helicopters crashed near the Olympic stadium in Berlin on March 21, 2103. The helicopters crashed as they were landing after a training exercise.
BERLIN, Germany — Two helicopters crashed into each other in mid-air during a police training exercise at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Thursday, killing at least one person.
The Berlin fire brigade said that "several" others were injured in the accident, which took place at low altitude on a snowy afternoon.
"Three helicopters were in the air. It was a real snowstorm. Suddenly we heard a bang and someone shouted 'everybody down.' Then there was blood everywhere. Nearby, there was a huge pool of blood," one eyewitness told a German TV station, according to the BBC.
The third aircraft landed safely, the Tagesspiegel newspaper reported. Each helicopter was carrying between 20 and 25 people.
The person killed, who died of his or her injuries on the scene, is understood to have been the pilot of one of the helicopters, according to German media.
Photos showed police and emergency workers clambering over the wreckage, possibly in an attempt to reach someone inside. One police officer appeared to stagger away from the aircraft, helped by colleagues.
The crash occurred as over 400 police officers gathered for a training exercise on how to deal with fan violence at soccer games.
The Berlin state police and prosecutor have opened an investigation into the circumstances of the crash, a spokesperson told Bild.
Jessica Phelan contributed to this story from Berlin.
Read more from GlobalPost: Australia: helicopter carrying wedding party crashes
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. If you’ve been thinking about making a donation, this is the best time to do it. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. All donations between now and June 30 will be matched 2:1. Will you help keep our newsroom on strong footing by giving to The World?