:00:00. > :00:00.goodbye from me. On BBC One we now join the BBC's news teams
:00:00. > :00:07.A major investigation on the Norfolk coast today after an American air
:00:08. > :00:17.force helicopter crashes, claiming the lives of its four crew.
:00:18. > :00:20.It was making a strange noise and then it disappeared in the next
:00:21. > :00:24.thing I heard was the silence. Hello and welcome to Look East. Stay
:00:25. > :00:27.with us for the next half hour for full coverage of that incident.
:00:28. > :00:31.We're live at the US Air Force base at Lakenheath, where the authorities
:00:32. > :00:38.are trying to find out what caused one of the world's most advanced
:00:39. > :00:41.aircraft to crash. Good morning, it's eight AM...
:00:42. > :00:44.We gauge the impact on the American community both here and in the
:00:45. > :00:47.United States. And on one of the darkest nights of
:00:48. > :01:00.the year, Stargazing Live lights up the night sky here in the East.
:01:01. > :01:03.Hello. The news here tonight is dominated by that helicopter crash
:01:04. > :01:06.in Norfolk. It happened at about this time yesterday, when two United
:01:07. > :01:11.States Air Force helicopters flew to Norfolk on a training mission. But
:01:12. > :01:14.after leaving their base at RAF Lakenheath, one of the Pave Hawk
:01:15. > :01:19.aircraft crashed to the ground on marshland. This is how the events
:01:20. > :01:23.unfolded. The US Air Force says the crash
:01:24. > :01:26.happened at around 6pm last night. Soon after, three lifeboats were
:01:27. > :01:29.launched, but then stood down when it became clear the crash was on
:01:30. > :01:34.land. Police, RAF and American Air Force staff went to the scene. A 400
:01:35. > :01:39.metre cordon was set up around the crash site. The second helicopter
:01:40. > :01:42.managed to land safely nearby. Shortly before 9:30, police
:01:43. > :01:48.confirmed all four crew on board had died.
:01:49. > :01:51.Well, the incident triggered a full`scale inquiry at RAF
:01:52. > :01:54.Lakenheath. We will be hearing from our chief reporter in a moment. But
:01:55. > :02:03.let's start with our defence reporter, who is near the scene of
:02:04. > :02:07.the crash in North Norfolk. You can see behind me that the
:02:08. > :02:14.police called around the accident site, 400 square metres, is still in
:02:15. > :02:20.place, almost 24 hours after this crash will stop the bodies of the
:02:21. > :02:25.four servicemen are still inside the wreckage. For those investigating
:02:26. > :02:31.this terrible accident, some of whom will be from RAF Lakenheath and may
:02:32. > :02:36.know this `` these servicemen, it must be especially harrowing.
:02:37. > :02:43.From the air, you can see how widely the debris is scattered, covering an
:02:44. > :02:48.area the size of a football pitch. The wreckage is unrecognisable, a
:02:49. > :02:54.hint of the force of the impact. Nearby, the second Pave Hawk landed
:02:55. > :02:59.safely. Those who saw the scene have spoken to investigators will stop
:03:00. > :03:04.nobody saw or heard what happened, but these people were startled by
:03:05. > :03:09.the sound of a low`flying helicopter just seconds before the crash.
:03:10. > :03:17.I got up to look, because it sounded so loud. As you think anything was
:03:18. > :03:27.wrong? Yes, I did, because it did not sound normal. It is hard to
:03:28. > :03:33.describe. It is did not sound right. We are used to helicopters flying
:03:34. > :03:42.over regularly. My property started to shake. Bertie
:03:43. > :03:45.was going mad and barking. It was loud when it went over, but we did
:03:46. > :03:50.not realise until we put the news on that it had crashed.
:03:51. > :03:54.The investigation has been hampered by the marshy to rain and the fact
:03:55. > :03:59.that live ammunition has been scattered around the scene. You can
:04:00. > :04:03.see behind me, the second Pave Hawk helicopter close to the first one.
:04:04. > :04:07.For now, it cannot take off, because there is a danger that evidence on
:04:08. > :04:17.the ground will be disturbed. American personnel have arrived on
:04:18. > :04:22.the scene, but now, policemen are leading the investigation. The
:04:23. > :04:27.bodies cannot be removed, because it could disrupt the evidence. It is a
:04:28. > :04:29.painstaking process. The air investigation aspects of very
:04:30. > :04:37.technical. Where people buy from the UK and the
:04:38. > :04:45.US military. `` we have people here from stop. There will be people
:04:46. > :04:51.assisting with the recovery of the bodies from the crashed aircraft.
:04:52. > :04:59.The Pave Hawk was on a low`level night is the size. They have night
:05:00. > :05:03.sight technology. This man was an aviation journalist and says that
:05:04. > :05:08.the helicopter has an excellent safety record.
:05:09. > :05:17.It looks like the daybreak was spread over a large area, which
:05:18. > :05:24.suggest that it was flying at this `` at a high speed. `` it looks like
:05:25. > :05:31.the crash wreckage. It could have hit the ground flying quite low. It
:05:32. > :05:35.is tragic, but we have concerns. We are wondering how they will get
:05:36. > :05:42.the wreckage out when the time comes. It is a very sensitive area.
:05:43. > :05:47.This nature reserve is a haven for wildlife, and some residents have
:05:48. > :05:53.underlined existing concerns about low flying exercises. Tonight,
:05:54. > :05:58.prayers are with the lives of those who have lost loved ones.
:05:59. > :06:03.What is likely to happen about recovering the bodies of the
:06:04. > :06:06.victims? The coroner was here this morning
:06:07. > :06:12.and she has given mission for those bodies to be removed from the site.
:06:13. > :06:16.When that happens, it is down to the crash investigators. They are
:06:17. > :06:20.gathering evidence. They could be removed overnight, but I think they
:06:21. > :06:25.will wait until first light. As to how this happened, there is still no
:06:26. > :06:31.idea. It could have been mechanical failure, a bird strike, human error.
:06:32. > :06:34.We do not know. The investigators will be here for several days, the
:06:35. > :06:41.area could be cordoned off for several weeks.
:06:42. > :06:44.At RAF Lakenheath today, flags have been flown at half mast and
:06:45. > :06:47.President Obama rang the base earlier to express his condolences.
:06:48. > :06:54.Let's go to Lakenheath now and hear from our chief reporter Kim Riley.
:06:55. > :06:58.This base, like the one nearby, has very close relationships with
:06:59. > :07:09.communities around it. It is home to the 48 Fighter Wing, the Liberty
:07:10. > :07:13.Wing, and they are morning the deaths of four of their own. The
:07:14. > :07:20.president rank them to express his sadness.
:07:21. > :07:27.Military arrive at the main gate. All day, there has been a sombre
:07:28. > :07:32.atmosphere here. They are now fighting F`15 fighters. They have
:07:33. > :07:39.played key walls in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan. The Pave Hawk
:07:40. > :07:47.helicopters have been vital to their crews. It is highly versatile. It
:07:48. > :07:57.has taken part in humanitarian operations, like hurricane Katrina.
:07:58. > :08:04.It has a four`man crew and Ken carry up to 12 passengers.
:08:05. > :08:12.It is related to the Black Hawk. The crews have vigorous training, often
:08:13. > :08:15.in the pitch dark at high speed. Tonight, the commander of the wing
:08:16. > :08:44.issued a statement: Tonight, the search is under way to
:08:45. > :08:46.find out why the Pave Hawk aircraft crashed.
:08:47. > :08:49.It could be a long time before there is a definitive answer.
:08:50. > :08:56.I gather the Air Force will be commenting on this tomorrow?
:08:57. > :09:01.That is right. Colonel Robinson will be here tomorrow morning quite
:09:02. > :09:09.early, talking to the media and Askin `` and string any questions.
:09:10. > :09:15.We may learn the identity of the four men who died. They made it
:09:16. > :09:21.quite clear they would not be announcing the names until 24 hours
:09:22. > :09:24.after next of kin had been informed. This is normal procedure for
:09:25. > :09:31.tragedies like this. They don't want relatives around the world hearing
:09:32. > :09:37.by them media, rather than being told by their family. They will be
:09:38. > :09:41.involved in the investigation that is unfolding. Further into the base,
:09:42. > :09:47.there are flag is at half`mast top flowers have been laid to the memory
:09:48. > :09:51.of those who died. In the House of Commons today, the
:09:52. > :09:53.Prime Minister paid tribute to the American aircrew. While local MPs
:09:54. > :09:59.praised their bravery. Our political correspondent has the reaction now
:10:00. > :10:03.from Westminster. With many parts of the country still
:10:04. > :10:11.flooded and the death of a Labour MP, the Commons was in a subdued
:10:12. > :10:16.mood. Last night's crash only had a brief mention.
:10:17. > :10:20.Our thoughts should go to the victims of the American helicopter
:10:21. > :10:28.crash in Norfolk. But MPs said that this was a major
:10:29. > :10:33.tragedy. It is the largest loss of American life in the country for a
:10:34. > :10:36.long time, and the airbase has been a major part of the community for
:10:37. > :10:42.many years. The whole of Lakenheath will be
:10:43. > :10:46.mourning this loss. The crash shows how brave the M men are, in action
:10:47. > :10:53.and in training, to make sure that they are always ready to defend our
:10:54. > :10:58.freedom. `` the air crew. There is also an excerpt `` and
:10:59. > :11:03.acceptance that there will be questions about how the military
:11:04. > :11:10.train will stop the MOD keeps away from built`up areas, but MPs will be
:11:11. > :11:13.looking for reassurance. When something like this happens,
:11:14. > :11:18.there has to be a thorough examination of what happened. People
:11:19. > :11:24.on the whole of very proud of the tradition of the RAF and the
:11:25. > :11:30.American military being in the region, but communities have to feel
:11:31. > :11:35.safe stop then need to be proper steps taken to make sure that the
:11:36. > :11:41.risk to communities is minimised. But that is a debate for another
:11:42. > :11:50.time. Today, MPs have been shocked and saddened about what happened on
:11:51. > :11:54.the Norfolk coast will stop In other news, the death of a man at a
:11:55. > :12:01.building site in Colchester is being investigated by
:12:02. > :12:07.The Essex coroner says there were serious failings in the care given
:12:08. > :12:10.to a patient who died in Basildon Hospital. Lyn O'Reilly went in for a
:12:11. > :12:13.bowel operation but died nine days later from an infection. Her family
:12:14. > :12:16.are now taking legal action against the hospital trust.
:12:17. > :12:19.It has been a difficult time for her family.
:12:20. > :12:29.It is believed that she would be alive today if it had not been for
:12:30. > :12:35.the many mistakes that were made. She went in for a bowel operation,
:12:36. > :12:41.but died several days later after it was not spotted that there were
:12:42. > :12:47.problems. It was said today that there were serious failings in her
:12:48. > :13:01.care. She said that the standard of note`taking was wonderful.
:13:02. > :13:05.Lyn O'Reilly's `` was terrible. Lyn O'Reilly's operator said that he had
:13:06. > :13:09.not noted the information in his notes. The hospital trust says that
:13:10. > :13:18.they have made changes to prevent deaths like Lyn O'Reilly's. It is to
:13:19. > :13:24.early to say if the culture can change.
:13:25. > :13:26.The family welcome the close ongoing scrutiny of the hospital by the Care
:13:27. > :13:31.Quality Commission. Lyn O'Reilly's family are now taking
:13:32. > :13:41.legal action against the health trust.
:13:42. > :13:46.Still to come, we are looking at the stars.
:13:47. > :13:52.A lot of lights have been switched off so that people can look at the
:13:53. > :13:55.sky. It is Stargazing Live, astronomy really is the new rock and
:13:56. > :14:06.roll, and there is this stage to prove it.
:14:07. > :14:10.If you've just joined us, our main story tonight is the death of four
:14:11. > :14:22.Amercian air crew in a helicopter crash in Norfolk. The crash happened
:14:23. > :14:25.24 hours ago. The bodies of the victims haven't been recovered yet.
:14:26. > :14:28.The aircraft was based at RAF Lakenheath and was on a training
:14:29. > :14:31.exercise when it crashed. Roger Smith is from Lowestoft and is an
:14:32. > :14:40.expert in military aircraft. It has been a very safe aircraft flying at
:14:41. > :14:44.low level at night is a potentially risky business, but they have not
:14:45. > :14:51.had many accidents. It is a Pave Hawk, rather than a
:14:52. > :15:00.Black Hawk? Yes, a Black Hawk is a troop carrying helicopter. The Pave
:15:01. > :15:06.Hawk is full of electronics and avionics which helps it see in the
:15:07. > :15:12.dark. It can follow radar and infrared, to see in the dark. The
:15:13. > :15:15.pilots and the crew can wear night vision goggles, which helps them to
:15:16. > :15:19.see in the dark. We heard that this was carrying
:15:20. > :15:28.ammunition, which is part of the problem in the flare`up? `` clear
:15:29. > :15:33.up. Yes, they do not want people to pick
:15:34. > :15:39.them up. They should not do much damage other than being picked up.
:15:40. > :15:44.A lot of people have suggested that it could have been a bird strike?
:15:45. > :15:49.Yes, we will see what happens when the board of inquiry gives its
:15:50. > :15:58.report. Helicopters do not fly as fast as low flying jets, and will be
:15:59. > :16:02.less damaged by a bird strike. I think that if a helicopter hit a
:16:03. > :16:11.bird, there would not be a lot of damage. If the helicopter was in a
:16:12. > :16:16.hover and a bird hit a tail rotor, that has crashed a British Telecom
:16:17. > :16:24.to in the past. `` British helicopter.
:16:25. > :16:27.There's been an Amercian air force presence in Suffolk since the war.
:16:28. > :16:30.And over the generations a close bond has developed between the large
:16:31. > :16:33.bases and their Suffolk neighbours. Today, Look East Suffolk reporter
:16:34. > :16:38.Kevin Burch examined the impact of the helicopter tragedy on the local
:16:39. > :16:44.community. The world's biggest bombers visit
:16:45. > :16:48.England's... The American presence at RAF
:16:49. > :17:00.Lakenheath has been difficult to ignore. And RAF meet your... RAF
:17:01. > :17:06.Lakenheath is now the largest American base in the country, home
:17:07. > :17:10.to 6000 personnel from America. There are thousands more at a base
:17:11. > :17:16.next door. We went behind the scenes on thanks `` Thanksgiving day, and
:17:17. > :17:24.found out why it was called mini America.
:17:25. > :17:31.We have 100 pounds of meat, many turkeys and hams.
:17:32. > :17:40.But from the celebration, the mood today was commiseration. Here is the
:17:41. > :17:44.counsellor for the village. It is very sad. Many people in the
:17:45. > :17:51.area work for the American bases. We're like a family. This is a time
:17:52. > :17:57.to reflect on how serious the job is.
:17:58. > :18:01.The village here worked on the base for many years. He says that there
:18:02. > :18:09.is a sense of shock, but the crash needs to be seen in context, given
:18:10. > :18:13.the scale of the base. They have many flights in the day and night,
:18:14. > :18:20.and have not lost any of four. They have done very well.
:18:21. > :18:25.This man teaches music, many of his students from the base. He says that
:18:26. > :18:29.the American troops always play their part, at family days and to
:18:30. > :18:36.look after the nature reserves. Recently, many of the troops did
:18:37. > :18:43.litter picking and tidying up at the base `` nature reserve. So it is
:18:44. > :18:50.much appreciated. You have the fighter base and the
:18:51. > :18:53.bombers, but they are also in our communities and are a big part of
:18:54. > :19:00.the community. The council are planning to send the
:19:01. > :19:10.American base flowers and a letter of condolence. Side`by`side for
:19:11. > :19:13.years, now closer than ever. Large crowds are gathering in
:19:14. > :19:16.Norwich this evening for an event linked to the BBC's stargazing
:19:17. > :19:20.programme. The main activities are taking place just outside the Forum.
:19:21. > :19:26.Our own star David Whiteley is there now.
:19:27. > :19:29.When I was at school, I was in the astronomy club. And if you were in
:19:30. > :19:33.the astronomy club you were a geek. But now being a geek is super cool.
:19:34. > :19:37.Astronomy has become very rock and roll and this year's Stargazing Live
:19:38. > :19:40.is bigger than ever. Of course, live shows on BBC Two and massive live
:19:41. > :19:44.events like this one here in Norwich.
:19:45. > :19:51.There is a choir singing on the stage, and they have also turned off
:19:52. > :19:54.a lot of the light pollution in local businesses, so we can see the
:19:55. > :19:59.stars. Hopefully it won't rain anymore. In a minute, I'll be
:20:00. > :20:04.chatting to the stage presenter of the this show. But first, here's
:20:05. > :20:10.Shaun Peel. It is a far cry from the sky at
:20:11. > :20:16.night. This is stargazing in the 21st century. It is rock and roll,
:20:17. > :20:22.and there is a three hour road show of choirs, bands and stand`up
:20:23. > :20:27.comedy. Everyone on the stage are
:20:28. > :20:31.scientists, but also performance. It is about making people enthusiasm,
:20:32. > :20:36.children and adults, so that they go out and look at the sky and see the
:20:37. > :20:43.big universe. Stargazing Live has blown the
:20:44. > :20:48.cobwebs of thousands of telescopes and introduce the universe to a new
:20:49. > :20:55.generation of stop last night's show was at Jodrell bank, and there was
:20:56. > :21:05.also a report from way born on the coast. `` Weyburn.
:21:06. > :21:09.This is what Mars looks like. There will also be a human
:21:10. > :21:14.constellation. The space experts are marking out the pavement in the
:21:15. > :21:18.shape of the night sky. It will be a UK first.
:21:19. > :21:23.They are mapping out the night sky as it would be over this spot at 30
:21:24. > :21:28.PM. They will get 200 people to stand on the markers, give them the
:21:29. > :21:32.torch, cut the lights, everyone puts their hands in the air. That will be
:21:33. > :21:39.filmed from up above, and there you have it, the Eastern lights.
:21:40. > :21:43.This is what you would see. We will make the constellations in different
:21:44. > :21:46.colours, so you can see what is up there.
:21:47. > :21:51.Last night, the programme had the Northern lights, tonight 200 people
:21:52. > :21:59.will create our own version, the Norwich lights.
:22:00. > :22:03.That constellation will light up the night sky at 7:30pm. I am joined by
:22:04. > :22:08.one of the size presenters who has just got off stage after an
:22:09. > :22:15.energetic performance. `` science performance.
:22:16. > :22:19.This is about getting science to a larger audience, many people think
:22:20. > :22:25.it is is about men in white coats in a laboratory, but science is done in
:22:26. > :22:31.Hawaii, in incredible places. So it is making people know that science
:22:32. > :22:35.is done by a whole range of people. Astronomy, science, it can be quite
:22:36. > :22:41.glamorous? I would not say that it is always glamorous, because it is
:22:42. > :22:46.at night and it is cold, but it is not just done by the stereotypical
:22:47. > :22:50.people. It can be done by anyone. A lot of people think that science is
:22:51. > :22:55.difficult, but sometimes it is just how it is explained that makes it
:22:56. > :23:00.difficult. So what my stage show, I like to make it into the basic
:23:01. > :23:05.parts. I'm hoping that even eight`year`olds will know about some
:23:06. > :23:13.of the scientific facts, by doing a big explosion. Yes, I am sure that
:23:14. > :23:17.many of the parents will want to have washing`up liquid bottles
:23:18. > :23:28.across the room! I am so glad that worked, but I was so happy when it's
:23:29. > :23:36.moved 11 metres. I will be here very late, there is a lot of work to do.
:23:37. > :23:44.The Stargazing Live event carries on until 9pm. It will be on BBC Two
:23:45. > :23:50.until nine o'clock. I wish astronomy was this exciting when I was a
:23:51. > :24:01.child. It was really boring. What is the weather like tonight?
:24:02. > :24:10.I'm afraid it is not very good tonight. There is rain moving
:24:11. > :24:14.further north. It will be making its way from the South West. It will not
:24:15. > :24:23.be raining all evening and all night, it will be quite shallow reef
:24:24. > :24:26.stop `` patchy rain. But there will also be rain into the early hours of
:24:27. > :24:31.tomorrow morning. The wind will pick up. There will be a lot of cloud
:24:32. > :24:36.around and that breeze, so it will not get very cold. Temperatures
:24:37. > :24:42.around six or seven Celsius by the end of the night and a moderate to
:24:43. > :24:46.fresh south`westerly breeze. Tomorrow, it will be quite cloudy
:24:47. > :24:50.and there could be some rain around, but it will become brighter
:24:51. > :24:58.and stop it will be an improving picture. It might be damp at first.
:24:59. > :25:05.Temperatures will be warmer than they were today, it could be 10
:25:06. > :25:10.Celsius, but you have to factor in the breeze. And the breeze will get
:25:11. > :25:15.fresher throughout the day. So feeling more cold. And in the
:25:16. > :25:20.afternoon, cooler air, and temperatures dropping. And
:25:21. > :25:27.temperatures will drop tomorrow as well. There could be some ground
:25:28. > :25:30.frost across the region. On Friday, there will be high
:25:31. > :25:35.pressure, so that promises some better weather. This weather front
:25:36. > :25:40.of moving across the country top there will not be a lot of rain by
:25:41. > :25:45.the time we get to us. The bulk of Friday does looked right. By the end
:25:46. > :25:49.of the day, there could be some patchy rain.
:25:50. > :25:54.The outlook is looking quite settled. There will be dry and
:25:55. > :26:02.bright weather on Friday, feeling cooler. Cloud increasing overnight.
:26:03. > :26:07.Not quite as cold on Friday night. But this cold air will continue to
:26:08. > :26:13.move downwards. So the weekend is looking dry and bright, the numbers
:26:14. > :26:19.will go down. So highs of six Celsius, despite a lot of rain. So
:26:20. > :26:27.the overnight lows will be colder, and still some rain by Sunday night.
:26:28. > :26:32.A reminder of our main story. Crash investigators are expected to spend
:26:33. > :26:36.the next few days trying to find out how a US Air Force helicopter
:26:37. > :26:41.crashed in Norfolk, claiming the lives of its four crew. The Pave
:26:42. > :26:46.Hawk helicopter had been on a training exercise when it happened.
:26:47. > :26:55.Our reporter is at the site. What is the move like?
:26:56. > :27:00.It is a very sombre mood. People understand that there are still
:27:01. > :27:05.bodies here. At some people are saying that the night exercises
:27:06. > :27:08.should not happen in this area is top the helicopters are sometimes
:27:09. > :27:15.only three metres above a bird reserve. The investigation will not
:27:16. > :27:21.have an early outcome. It will be carried out by the American
:27:22. > :27:26.military. We may not have a result for up to a year. But our thoughts
:27:27. > :27:34.are with the families and loved ones at RAF Lakenheath stop that is all
:27:35. > :27:39.from us for now. There will be more in the later
:27:40. > :27:45.bulletins and tomorrow morning on the radio. Good night.