Helicopter Crash: Two Killed In Vauxhall

Two people have been killed as a helicopter smashed into a crane in central London, crashing into two cars as it hit the ground.

Witnesses said the aircraft cartwheeled out of the sky after hitting the crane on St George Wharf Tower, in Vauxhall, amid heavy fog.

It then exploded into flames.

The pilot - the only person aboard the helicopter - was killed, emergency services said.

Nine people were injured, with one reported to be in a critical condition. Five are in hospital and four were treated at the scene, the Metropolitan Police said.

London Fire Brigade said they had rescued a man from a burning car at the scene, although his condition is not known.

Burning wreckage and aviation fuel covered the road and people have reported seeing cars on fire and hearing people scream.

Pictures showed flames and a huge column of black smoke at the crash site just off Wandsworth Road near South Lambeth Road.

Firefighters say the crane is now in a "precarious" position.

Some cars caught fire and one man was rescued from a burning vehicle

Rescue crews searched the River Thames following reports that somebody had been seen in the water after the crash.

Emergency services say the Agusta 109 helicopter was on a scheduled commercial flight from Surrey to Elstree, but was diverted to Battersea due to bad weather.

The London City Airport in Docklands had delays earlier in the day due to poor visibility.

Several fire engines were at the scene, as well as police and ambulances.

An update by authorities investigating the crash is scheduled at 12.30pm.

Michael Krumstets, who lives in the area, said he saw the helicopter hit the crane and the aircraft fall "directly towards us".

St George Wharf Tower this morning

"We ran from the side of the road and it hit the road just besides us … and then it exploded," Mr Krumstets said.

Sarah-Beth Casey lives in an apartment near the incident. She told Sky News: "You're always worried about things like 9/11 and things like that.

"When I heard the explosion - it was like a little earthquake. It was like a gas explosion. I looked up to see debris falling off the tower."

An Agusta 109 helicopter

Bruce Grain, a station manager for London Fire Brigade and among the first to arrive at the scene, said the helicopter had hit the crane up against the tower, one of Europe's tallest residential buildings.

"Luckily, one of the drivers had just got out of his car. We don't know the location of the other driver at this time," he told Sky News.

"Large parts of the helicopter are in the road," Mr Grain added. "There is debris over surrounding buildings … three buildings."

"We've managed to extinguish most of the fire now."

Prime Minister David Cameron was "very saddened to learn of the fatalities and injuries" in the crash, his spokesman said.

Aviation expert Chris Yates told Sky News that any tall structure must have a warning light on top to alert pilots. The question is, he said, whether there was a warning light on the crane and whether the pilot would have been able to see it in the foggy conditions.

The accident happened close to a railway line and train services were briefly suspended but are now running in and out of Waterloo station. Vauxhall tube station was closed but has now reopened.

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