RAF helicopter crash lands in field

An RAF helicopter crash landed in a field after apparently hitting power lines close to a seaside town, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Six air crew and passengers on board the RAF Chinook were unhurt but the aircraft itself sustained damage.

The potentially fatal crash happened outside the seaside resort of Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire, west Wales, on Wednesday afternoon.

Early indications are the helicopter collided with power lines, leaving several hundred homes temporarily without electricity.

The RAF is investigating and a team is at the crash site studying the wreckage.

"We can confirm that there was an incident involving an RAF Chinook which resulted in the aircraft landing in a field," a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.

He said that all six of the air crew and passengers escaped without injury but the aircraft sustained damage.

Reports that the aircraft hit power lines could not be confirmed and it was too soon to say what caused the accident, he said.

"Whether it was a question of mechanical failure or something else is too early to say at the moment.

"There is a team out there at the moment looking at the damage that was done and how the aircraft can be taken back to RAF Odiham.