The Air Accident Investigations branch has confirmed that it is sending a team to the site of a helicopter crash in North Yorkshire.
According to North Yorkshire Fire Service. Firefighters from Boroughbridge, Knaresborough, Harrogate and Ripon responded to a helicopter that had crashed in a field near Aldborough just before 1.30pm.
Police and Ambulance services also attended the scene in which one person died.
Local witnesses have described seeing a red and white helicopter that plummeted to the ground “out of control” followed by an “enormous explosion”.
North Yorkshire Police superintendent Dave Hannan 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”
Police have named the pilot as Barry Dodd CBE who was Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist police officers.