Helicopter 'nearly hit car' (From Gazette Series)

Helicopter 'nearly hit car'

THE MINISTRY of Defence has launched an investigation following a complaint that a low-flying helicopter nearly crashed into a car driven by a Wotton-under-Edge woman.

Fiona Wright, 46, of Dryleaze, told the Gazette she was driving home from Chipping Sodbury towards Wickwar on Monday afternoon with her 73-year-old mother, Barbara, when the helicopter swerved in front of her white Fiat Uno.

She said on Tuesday: "I suddenly became aware of a dark shadow on my right, matching our speed and down at car height. It was a dark green colour, so I think it must have been a military helicopter. I was the only car on the road at the time and then all of a sudden it came in front of my car - only half a bonnet away.

"I just grabbed my mother's hand because it was right on the road. I thought it was going to kill us.

"The pilot knew we were there because he was at the same height as us and travelling at the same speed. I was only going about 40mph. I think that he was doing it as some kind of dare. You could tell the pilot was experienced because he knew what he was doing.

"What was he doing that low? He could have caused a pile-up. We were absolutely terrified and I am still shaking.

"We stopped for lunch at The Buthay in Wickwar and I tried to forget about it. But I didn't sleep last night. I think it was a delayed reaction." Miss Wright, who is disabled, reported the incident to the Civil Aviation Authority, which referred her to the Ministry of Defence complaints and inquiries office.

"The woman we spoke to at the MoD told us that they carry out a manoeuvre called grass- hopping and they would be able to find out who it was because they have to submit flight logs.

"They have promised me that they are going to look into it and they will let us know what has happened in 15 days."

Miss Wright also reported the incident to police in Dursley. She said: "They didn't want to know and told me that it was nothing to do with them."

Caroline Edie, spokeswoman for the MoD, said: "The lady in question did exactly the right thing by calling the complaints line. We take any allegation of breach of low flying very seriously. They will now launch an investigation to make sure that all regulations were adhered to.

"We are aware that low flying can cause disturbance to people but to achieve our military aims low flying is necessary.

"We have stringent regulations on low flying and we will discover if there has been a breach. The individual will then be dealt with."

On Tuesday afternoon Gazette reporter Keith Watson was driving out of Cam along Taits Hill Road when he experienced a similar incident.

A large military aircraft with propellers, which may have been a Hercules, suddenly flew across his eye-line as he started to descend the hill. Seconds later an identical plane followed on the same flight path.

Mr Watson said: "I was quite startled to see an aeroplane that appeared to be flying at the same height that I was driving.

"Maybe I'm just a city boy still getting used to the ways of the country but, if a pilot flew a plane that low over Sunderland, then someone would have had his wheels off!"