Three people have died and a fourth is in serious condition after a helicopter crashed in a field on the Isle of Wight, Hampshire Police have said.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said the helicopter, being used for a flying lesson, came down near Shanklin Road, Ventnor, at around 9.24am.
A spokesman for Northumbria Helicopters said that its aircraft G-OCLV, listed as a Robinson R44 II helicopter, was involved in the accident during a flying lesson.
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The helicopter crashed in a field in Ventnor, Isle of Wight
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The firm said: "The flight, which departed from Sandown Airport at approximately 9am, was carrying four passengers on board, including the pilot, and was undertaking a flying lesson."
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance confirmed it had sent an aircraft to an incident near Ventnor.
"We can confirm our dispatchers deployed the Air Ambulance at 9.28am to an incident near Ventnor on the Isle of Wight today, a statement read.
"The Critical Care Team, consisting of a doctor and a specialist paramedic, are on scene, working alongside our emergency service colleagues."
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Road closures were put in place while emergency service crews worked at the scene
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It later issued an update to say one person had been airlifted to hospital following the crash.
An air ambulance spokesman added: "We have treated and airlifted one patient to the Major Trauma Centre, University Hospital Southampton.
"Our thoughts are with them and everyone involved in today's incident."
Witness Leigh Goldsmith told the Isle of Wight County Press she was driving towards Shanklin when she saw the helicopter "spiralling" before it went out of sight and came down in a hedge.
She explained she was the first on the scene and saw there were four people on board and believed the airbags had been activated.
A spokesman for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said: "Firefighters from Newport, Ventnor and Shanklin were called out shortly before 9.30am on Monday, August 25, following reports of a light aircraft incident near Shanklin Road."
Councillor Chris Quirk, who represents the Shanklin area, said there was "no apparent smoke" or loud noise when the helicopter crashed.
Isle of Wight Councillor Chris Quirk said he could see no smoke coming from the scene of the crash
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He told GB News: "The crash appears to be in a field adjacent to the road. The road had four ambulances, three fire engines and two helicopters there not too long ago.
"It sounds as if one of the helicopters has gone off to the mainland airlifting a patient and the other one was the lifeguard helicopter which also has left the scene.
"There is no apparent smoke. The site is probably less than a mile of where I am right now and there are no signs of billowing smoke and we didn't hear an awful crash but one assumes they are getting on with trying to rescue people."
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has confirmed it is set to investigate the crash.
"The AAIB was notified of an accident involving a light helicopter on the Isle of Wight this morning, a spokesman said.
"We are deploying a team to commence an investigation."