RAF Chinook helicopter responds to incident near Arundel during Remembrance Sunday flypast
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Incredible images and video footage, taken by Worthing resident Mark Sheene, showed the moment the chopper landed and took off again from a field north of Arundel on Sunday afternoon (November 13).
An RAF spokesperson said: “A Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter conducted a series of flypasts across the South of England for Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
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Hide Ad“During the sortie, an incident occurred on the ground. The helicopter landed and the crew provided assistance.
"An investigation is ongoing and we cannot comment further at this time.”
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Bypassers were mesmerised by the sound of the chopper – described on the RAF website as an ‘extremely capable and highly versatile’ support helicopter that can be operated from land bases or ships into a ‘diverse range of environments’, from the Arctic to the desert or the jungle.
Mark, who saw the helicopter during a family day-out with his mum and son, said: “It had to come down quickly in the morning. The engineers were there all day and they were really friendly. They were on the way to Bognor.
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Hide Ad"We watched it take off. It was amazing. We were really close, about 100 yards away from it. The pilot waved as he flew off. It made our day. “
The helicopter, which entered service with the RAF in 1981, can be armed and is fitted with a suite of self-defence equipment, allowing it to operate across the battlespace.
The RAF said they are ‘primarily used’ for trooping, resupply and battlefield casualty evacuation.