One person died after a helicopter crashed in a field close to an RAF base in North Yorkshire this afternoon.

A huge 999 operation was launched following the smash close to Aldborough, Boroughbridge, shortly before 1:30pm.

Police confirmed the pilot died and there were no other passengers on board.

Emergency crews were called to the scene shortly before 1.30pm

“You couldn’t see anything,” she said. “There was so much smoke.

Police and fire crews descended on the scene, and an investigation has been launchedSpeaking by the scene, Superintendent Dave Hannan, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “Unfortunately I can report that one person, the pilot, is deceased in the helicopter.

“We are working with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and the Civil Aviation Authority to establish what the cause of that crash was and who the pilot may be.”

Mr Hannan said the helicopter was on fire when emergency services arrived at the scene and that efforts are being made to establish where it was coming from and where it was going

Emergency services are on the scene, close to Boroughbridge.

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