Ms Leena Luhtanen, Minister of Transport and Communications of Finland, and Mr Edgar Savisaar, Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications of Estonia, on the helicopter accident off the coast of Estonia

- We want to express our deepest condolences to the relatives of the victims of the helicopter crash, Ministers Luhtanen and Savisaar said. - This shocking accident touches us all deeply in Finland and Estonia.

There were eight Finns, four Estonians and two U.S citizens in the helicopter. The passengers and crew members are feared to be dead.

At the request of the aviation safety authorities the helicopter airline company Copterline improved the training of its pilots already last year. The Ministries will immediately examine what measures may be needed after the accident.

For further information please contact:
In Finland: Mr Perttu Puro, State Secretary, tel. +358 9 160 28325, +358 40 779 3436
In Estonia: Mrs Anu Hallik-Jürgenstein, Head of PR Department tel: +372 625 6493, +372 51 10 300 [email protected]