The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has deployed a multi‑disciplinary team to Doncaster to begin a safety investigation into a helicopter accident on Thursday 30 October 2025. In a notice published today, the AAIB said inspectors in aircraft operations, engineering and recorded data had been sent to the site to gather evidence and make enquiries.
Under the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations 2018, the AAIB is designated as the United Kingdom’s safety investigation authority for air accidents and serious incidents (Regulation 7). The regulations set a single purpose for investigations: preventing future accidents and incidents, without apportioning blame or liability (Regulation 8).
The first phase focuses on securing and documenting the scene. Inspectors record ground marks and wreckage, take fuel samples, and interview witnesses while recollections are fresh. They also gather relevant records such as training files, flight plans and maintenance logs. Where formal recorders are not fitted, investigators may recover electronic data from devices like smartphones, tablets or GPS units. The site phase typically lasts two to seven days depending on complexity, after which wreckage is transferred to AAIB facilities in Farnborough for detailed examination.
Preserving evidence is a legal requirement. Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 996/2010, retained in UK law, makes the AAIB responsible for protecting evidence and maintaining safe custody of the aircraft and its contents for as long as necessary. In addition, any person with knowledge of an accident or serious incident must notify the AAIB without delay-and for accidents, also inform the police-under Regulation 20; the AAIB’s 24‑hour reporting line is +44 (0)1252 512299.
Investigators have statutory powers to obtain material and access locations. Regulations 12 to 14 allow the AAIB to summon witnesses, require documents and other records, retain evidence for the duration of the investigation, and enter land, premises or aircraft. Entry to a dwelling requires consent, a warrant, or an urgent necessity where seeking consent would undermine the investigation.
Publication follows set stages. For significant accidents, the AAIB may issue a Special Bulletin within about 30 days to share initial facts and any urgent Safety Recommendations. Most field investigation reports are published within 12 months, with completed cases also collated in the AAIB Monthly Bulletin, issued on the second Thursday of each month.
Those referenced in the analysis are afforded procedural safeguards. Before a final report is published, the investigator‑in‑charge must give any person whose reputation could be adversely affected at least 28 days to make written representations (Regulation 16), and the Chief Inspector must provide a pre‑publication copy to the Secretary of State (Regulation 17). Investigations can be reopened if new and significant evidence emerges (Regulation 18). Certain records are protected from unauthorised disclosure by law (Regulation 26).
For Doncaster, the immediate steps include comprehensive scene documentation, controlled removal of the helicopter to Farnborough, and recovery of any retrievable recorded data. If urgent safety issues are identified at any stage, the AAIB can issue Safety Recommendations or publish a Special Bulletin to inform operators and the public. Formal findings will follow once evidence analysis and statutory consultation are complete.
The AAIB may also deploy its own drones to produce high‑precision measurements that support reconstruction work, complementing ground photography during the early phase of an investigation. This technique can achieve approximately one‑centimetre accuracy from around 40 metres altitude.