RAF helicopter catches fire on top of Wales mountain

An RAF helicopter has caught fire after making a “precautionary landing” in the mountains of Snowdonia.

Emergency services were called to the Yr Aran area as pictures emerged of black smoke rising from a peak.

A ministry of defence spokesman said the incident involved a training helicopter and everyone on board was accounted for.

He said: “A Griffin training helicopter safely completed a precautionary landing in Snowdonia this afternoon following a technical issue. Everyone on board exited safely, subsequently the aircraft caught fire.”

Six people in total were involved in the training – five military personnel and one civilian.

Five people – four military and one civilian – were in the aircraft, and the sixth was on the ground.

All of them were safely transported from the landing site.

Yr Aran is a mountain peak on a ridge south of Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales.

Chief Insp Nick Evans from North Wales Police said that just before 1.45pm emergency services attended to reports of a helicopter crash landing in the Yr Aran area.

“The Wales Air Ambulance in partnership with the Welsh Ambulance Service attended the location along with North Wales Police and Mountain Rescue Teams.

“It transpires that an RAF training helicopter from RAF Valley safely completed a precautionary landing in Snowdonia this afternoon following a technical issue.

“All occupants of the aircraft exited safely before the aircraft caught fire,” he said.

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said no one needed hospital treatment.

PA