Ninth body found in helicopter crash

A ninth body has been recovered from the wreckage of the Clutha pub in Glasgow which was crashed into by a helicopter on Friday night.

Police have said that they cannot rule out the possibility of more bodies being found as they continue to clear the scene.

Three people on board the helicopter have died and at least six pub patrons have been confirmed as dead.

The helicopter’s crew has been named pilot David Traill, 51 and police officers Tony Collins, 43 and Kirsty Nelis, 36.

Two men Samuel McGhee, 56 and Gary Arthur, 48 are the first to be named among the  pub-goers.

The accident happened as a band was playing at 10.25pm yesterday with witnesses saying the aircraft 'dropped like a stone'.

Dozens of others have been injured and 32 are being treated at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

A popular live music venue, the Clutha near to the River Clyde, was busy during a performance of a ska band.

The band, Esperanza, posted on Facebook that the musicians were all safe and well, but that they did not know the extent of others' injuries.

Grace McClean, who was inside the pub at the time of the crash, told the BBC: 'There was a ska band on in the pub at the back. It was fairly busy, we were having a nice time

"There was a woosh noise and then there was a bang. There was what seemed like smoke, but the band carried on playing.

"The whole pub just filled with dust, you couldn't see anything and you couldn't breathe. We managed to get outside, we found our friends, people were coming out in blood."

Gordon Smart, a newspaper editor, told Sky News: "I was in a car park and looked up and saw a helicopter which I think was a police helicopter.

'It was just such a surreal moment. It looked like it was dropping from a great height at a great speed.

"There was no fire ball and I did not hear an explosion. It fell like a stone. The engine seemed to be spluttering."

Images of the crash showed the wreckage of a dark blue helicopter with a yellow "POLICE" insignia lying on the roof of the pub.

Police Scotland Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick said: "At 22.25 on Friday evening, the Police Scotland helicopter - a Eurocopter EC135 T2 - came down on the roof of the Clutha Vaults pub in Stockwell Street, Glasgow.

"There were three people on board - two police officers and a civilian pilot. There were a number of customers inside the bar at the time."

She said the rescue operation was ongoing and it was too early to provide any details around why the helicopter came down.

Helicopter operator Bond Air Services said it was working with the police and emergency services.

Jim Murphy, the Labour MP for East Renfrewshire, was in the area at the time of the crash and said he ran into the pub to help before the emergency services arrived on the scene.

He told the BBC: "I was just a few yards away and I arrived on the scene outside the pub a few seconds after the impact. No-one knew what it was but you saw the pandemonium of the people trying to get out of the pub.

"It was almost like slow motion. Like other people you just do what you can to help."

Mr Murphy, who is the shadow international development minister, said it was a "horrific scene".

He added: "As you stood there you could see the helicopter embedded in the roof and sticking out the top of the roof and you knew it was something really serious."

The Air Accident Investigation Branch has launched an inquiry.

Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the families of the victims: “This is a tragic event and our deepest sympathies are with the families and friends who lost a loved one last night.

“I want to thank the emergency services who worked tirelessly throughout the night and I also want pay tribute to the bravery of the ordinary Glaswegians who rushed to help.

“We have offered the Scottish Government our support in any way we can and we are all wishing a speedy recovery to those who are injured.”

First Minister Alex Salmond tweeted: "The emergency services are in full operation. Our thoughts are with everyone involved. Scottish resilience operation now mobilised."

Devon Air Ambulance tweeted: "Thinking of and sending our thoughts to Police Scotland and our emergency services colleagues in Glasgow."