An RAF Chinook remained in a field near Bromyard in Herefordshire on Wednesday, May 6, after making a precautionary landing because of a technical issue. The Boeing CH-47 was still there hours later, drawing curious motorists to the rural road beside the site.
Trevor Davis, who lives off the B4214 Tenbury Road near Bromyard, said the grounded helicopter appeared in the field beside his house. "I went out this morning and never saw anything," he said. "When I came back home, I asked my wife if the helicopter had just landed, but she said 'no it's been there since 10pm last night'."
The Royal Air Force said the Chinook from 18 Sqn, RAF Odiham completed a precautionary landing in the field near Bromyard and that the aircraft landed safely and the crew were fine. The service also thanked the landowner for patience and assistance while the aircraft was assessed. The landing left the chinook helicopter bromyard field scene intact for much of the day, with the aircraft remaining in Herefordshire after the incident.
Police moved quickly to keep the road clear. West Mercia Police warned motorists not to obstruct the B4214, a national speed limit road, while stopping for a look at the aircraft. "Whilst we understand this may attract some interest and curiosity, can we please ask to keep traffic flowing and not stop or park in the highway as this is a national speed limit road," a police spokesperson said. The force also said it had seen several vehicles create hazardous situations by stopping and reversing up the road to look at the aircraft.
The warning points to the tension around the landing: the aircraft was down safely, but the public response turned a routine precaution into a roadside hazard. Police said members of the public should not enter the field, and they expected increased activity in the coming days as the aircraft was assessed. For now, the key fact is straightforward: the Chinook is secure, the crew are fine, and the bigger risk is traffic on the lane outside the field rather than anything happening in the field itself.
