Glasgow pub tragedy prompts West Midlands helicopter checks

Fleets have undergone rigorous safety checks, with the force's Chief Constable Chris Sims saying: "Given we operate helicopters of a very similar design and style, there were concerted efforts from the National Police Air Service to check safety.

The messages that came back were reassurances that our helicopters are operating to a standard and continue to operate safely."

The checks were made after a Scottish police aircraft crashed into the Clutha bar on Friday night. "They were tragic events in Glasgow and I've written to express our condolences," added Mr Sims. "I cannot think of another instance when an organisation has lost its own people and are dealing with a tragedy they were very much involved in.

"I think they have dealt with it well."

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Mr Sims made the remarks during a meeting of the West Midlands Strategic Policing and Crime Board yesterday, which began with a period of respectful silence for the victims of the Glasgow tragedy.

Brendan Connor, chairman for the Midlands Air Ambulance charity, added: "We have three similar 315 helicopters and continue to operate them safely."

Nick Clegg visited the scene of the crash yesterday. The Deputy Prime Minister met emergency services workers and was shown inside the safety cordon at the Clutha bar.

Nine people, including three on board the helicopter, died when the aircraft fell from the sky 'like a stone'. More than 100 people were inside at the time.

Mr Clegg laid flowers at the nearby memorial site and met members of the community.

All nine people who died have now been identified. Robert Jenkins, 61, and Mark O'Prey, 44, both from East Kilbride in South Lanarkshire, 33-year-old Colin Gibson, of Ayr, South Ayrshire, and John McGarrigle, 57, from Cumbernauld in North Lanarkshire, were named yesterday. Two other victims killed inside the pub had earlier been named as 48-year-old Gary Arthur, from Paisley, and Samuel McGhee, 56, of Glasgow.

All three of the helicopter's crew died as it returned from a police operation at 10.25pm on Friday. They were pilot David Traill, 51, and Kirsty Nelis, 36, and Tony Collins, 43. Eleven people remain in hospitals across the city.

The wreckage of the three-ton Eurocopter was removed from the building on Monday, allowing emergency services inside.

Comedian and actor Billy Connolly, who grew up in the city, visited the scene to lay a bouquet of flowers and spoke of his devastation at what happened at the pub he used to frequent. A fund to help bereaved relatives and survivors of the helicopter crash has been opened by the city council.