RAF chopper catches fire in Snowdonia mountains

AN RAF helicopter has caught fire after making a 'precautionary landing' in the mountains of Snowdonia.

Helicopter on fire in Snowdonia. Picture: Huw Price/PA Wire

Emergency services were called to the Yr Aran area as pictures emerged on social media 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.

“All four people on board exited safely. Subsequently the aircraft caught fire. Emergency services are on the scene.”

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

Twitter user Philippa Napper posted a picture showing smoke, writing: “Big fire on peak next to #snowdon Now just black smoke. Accident?”

Huw Price also posted a photograph and wrote: “Think a helicopter has crash-landed on top of mountain across from Snowdon. Huge fire, can see the flames from here.”

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called at about 1.50pm to reports of an incident in the Snowdonia area.

“The Wales Air Ambulance has been sent to respond and is currently in attendance at the scene.”

Keep up to date with all our sport news on The Scotsman’s Sport page on Facebook

DOWNLOAD THE SCOTSMAN APP ON ITUNES OR GOOGLE PLAY