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Subscribe to RSSA helicopter that collided with a construction crane and crashed onto the street killed two and injured nine others in a massive explosion. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
The helicopter crash in busy rush-hour London Wednesday was not terrorism-related. The chopper in fact struck a tall construction crane in heavy fog that left visibility in some areas near zero.
But some people initially had that fear, particularly as it happened close to the MI6 building, Britain's spy headquarters.
The pilot had requested to land at a different place to his originally intended destination.
But Londoners, still very much on alert since the deadly July 7, 2005 bombings of trains and a bus, were immediately reminded of the scenes following those attacks — as well as the Sept. 11 attacks in the U.S.
One commuter had just left a train station nearby, and said she had been looking up at the tops of buildings, marveling at the thickness of the fog that completely obscured them.
At that moment, she said, she heard an explosion that sounded like a bomb, terrifying people in the area and sending them ducking for cover.
Then she described what looked like a "meteor shower," with many pieces of fiery debris raining down onto the streets.
Still upset as she talked to reporters, the woman said her first thought was that the city was under some sort of attack.
"Like a little 9/11," she said.
'Thought it was a bomb'
Another witness said the same. He suspected the loud bang and resulting fire was likely the work of a terrorist, until word started circulating among commuters that a helicopter was involved.
"I thought it was a bomb, I literally thought it was a bomb," he told reporters.
One man said he saw the chopper land on top of a car, that also burst into flames. Others saw several vehicles on fire. Firefighters rescued one man from a burning car.
Even after commuter Mark Louis Sidney realized there was a helicopter, crashed on the ground, he still suspected terrorism, wondering "Wait a minute, has this thing been shot out of the sky or what?"
The London bombings in 2005 were traumatic, killing 52 people and the four bombers. In some ways, the losses still seem fresh.
People still tell the stories of those who lost their lives by running a few minutes early or late that morning. Or those who were spared by the same narrow margins.
In the last few years, Londoners have also instinctively adhered to that common New York directive — "If you see something, say something" — highly aware of their surroundings during the morning commute. To the point that any loud noise or commotion puts them on edge, looking for the nearest and best escape.
Such would be the case, one would expect, in New York or any other city that has deeply experienced an attack.
But this time, the culprit appears to be an old, old foe: London fog.
Related links:
Two die as helicopter hits crane, crashes on London street
See photographs from the scene of the crash
Leave a Comment:
Not a very secretive spy headquarters...
Don't you know where the Pentagon is? Not very secret either is it?
How about the Kremlin?
How about the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure?
Now of course if you think all those publicly known places are the only locations you're a tad naive...
The helicopter pilot was a Russian spy flying on the wrong side of the road.
Trolls have never been, nor will ever be funny. And Voter, i'm joking around. Obviously.
I didn't think your comment was very smart either.
Doesn't seem like anyone can have a little fun now-a-days.. sad.
Well Russian-American Girl, it's kind of hard sometimes to figure out what is supposed to be funny.
Or maybe what you thought was that oh-so-clever witticism just totally failed... particularly seeing as 2 people died in an event you thought enough of to make a joke about.
"Or maybe what you thought was that oh-so-clever witticism just totally failed..."
What...?
And did I ONCE mention a joke about the victims? No. I mentioned the whole "spy" building. I wasn't making a joke of them. And if I did, please point it out.
Still upset as she talked to reporters, the woman said her first thought was that the city was under some sort of attack.
"Like a little 9/11," she said.
Really? Yeah and this morning I heard a car backfire, it was like a 'little 7/7 London Bombing.' I wish the reporter would asked some follow up questions pertaining to the events and statistics surrounding 9/11 and why this event was even comparable, helis crash on a daily basis.
When we had the earthquake in Virginia a year and half ago, I was working in a building a few blocks from the Pentagon. The first thing anyone in the area thought was 'OMG, what just exploded?!' I was told by a friend that still works in the Pentagon that was what they all thought as they evacuated.
The possibility of terrorism is still a frightening reality and even accidents and natural occurences like these can be mistaken for it initially.
FIRST OF ALL, WHY DO I OR ANYONE HAVE TO LOG IN TWICE TO GET TO THIS PAGE??
The prez. is joking. If his recommendations get thru congress, which I seriously doubt, will take forever. I have plenty of time to buy/steal any weapons I want between now and then.
Nothing is going to stop illegal sales to anyone, including the mentally challenged such as this government. Furthermore, weapons will be stolen and given to whomever has the money. And the weapons already in service/use will make their rounds to whomever has the money.
It may be a good idea, but a band-aid won't work on this compound fracture. THINK PEOPLE, THINK!!
Operator error, obviously, since you commented on an article totally unrelated to whatever it is that you are talking about.
This has nothing to do with New York, London had signs in the tube with that slogan more than 30 years ago. Remember London was the main target for IRA bomber, so it is not a new thing for them, it started long before Americans worried about terrorists.
Bingo.
I can remember when I worked in London in the late 1970's and early 1980's that building evacuations for bomb threats were so common it got to the point people started to ignore them.
Wow, I wonder if Michelle Kosinski has ever actually been to London?
Take it from somewhere who was there on 9/11, a helicopter crashing and two plane hitting a 2 buildings are a little different, actually a lot different.
No wonder the British are still afraid of terrorists, the BBC uses the word "Islamists" to describe terrorists. Just because you believe in Islam does not make you a terrorist. The same as just because one BBC reporter molested girls does not mean that all BBC reporters are molesters. It was never reported what religion he was or perhaps we could have called him a Catholicist or Protestantist for his crimminal acts. IslamiISTS sounds like terrorISTS. See how dumb it is? The media tries to shape and mold how you think. Be an independent thinker not a Sheeple.
Dear America, Until you have faced the amount of terrorism as other countries saying that another group is "still afraid" of terrorism is a joke. AMERICA is still so afraid of terrorism we think our president is a Muslim and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. We are still so afraid that if the White House reported that "terror alerts" would resume and we'd take our "colored" warnings with the morning news. OF COURSE Londoners are still afraid of terrorism.. they were officially TERRORIZED for years.