Pilot Flown To Hospital On Medical Helo

By ANN Contributor Matthew French, Turku, Finland

A Cessna Caravan went down on landing at the Helsinki Vanta Airport area Monday evening, injuring the pilot, according to authorities. The airport's emergency response team reported only the pilot, who was the only person on board at the time, was injured.

The aircraft was on approach for landing on the runway, when the accident occurred just after 1900 local time, according to airport officials.

The airport rescue service followed the Cessna 208 (file photo of type, above) as it came down within the airport perimeter, according to authorities.

The aircraft was travelling from �rebrohon in central Sweden, and was cleared for landing at Helsinki-Vantaa according to air traffic controller Jouko Pelkonen. There was no immediate indication as to what the Caravan was carrying or its final destination. Witnesses said the aircraft "dropped like a dart" about three miles west of the airport.

FinnAir briefed reporters on the incident shortly after it happened. All air traffic was suspended for 30-minutes while the wreckage was located. The pilot was flow to the hospital by helicopter. His injuries were described by hospital officials as "slight."

Abundant snowfall and high winds that made roads extremely hazardous, especially in southern Finland, may have played a part in the accident, according to airport officials.

FMI: www.ilmailulaitos.fi/airport_helsinki-vantaa