The wreckage of the helicopter after the crash at Tern Hill. Picture by Alex Taylor

A helicopter from the Shropshire airbase where Prince William is training crashed as it came in to land.

Two military personnel who were on board the helicopter escaped uninjured and were today recovering at RAF Shawbury following the crash at the airbase’s relief training ground at Tern Hill, near Market Drayton, yesterday.

RAF officials have now launched an investigation into the cause of the crash which took place just after 3.10pm.

The two pilots, a Royal Navy helicopter instructor in his late 20s, and a student who is an Army pilot in his early 20s, were out on a routine training flight in a Squirrel helicopter about six miles from the airbase when the crash happened.

Squadron Leader Neil Hope, a spokesman for RAF Shawbury, today said he could not name the pilots involved or reveal who was piloting the aircraft, but confirmed Prince William was in a classroom at the time and not involved in the crash.

He said an investigation had been launched into the cause of the crash and pictures taken by RAF officials had been handed over to an armed forces Service Inquiry for examination.

He could not reveal details of how the incident happened, but said the helicopter had ended up on its side, with the rotor facing the wrong way and the aircraft’s tail touching the ground.

“It was just a routine training flight, and the two personnel on board walked away from it. Both were fine. 

“A Service Inquiry has been convened today so they will determine the cause but it will take time. Flight Lieutenant Wales was not involved,” he said.

Suzie Fothergill, spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, confirmed that ambulances were sent to the relief training ground at Tern Hill. She said: “Two ambulances, two rapid response vehicles and the County Air Ambulance from Cosford were sent to the scene. When we arrived there were two people in the helicopter but both of them had suffered no injury.”

By Abigail Bates