UPDATED: Bond Air Services, the company which owns and manages the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, has suspended flights of the EC135 helicopter – the same model which crashed on to The Clutha bar in Glasgow at the end of November.
All 22 helicopters operated by Bond in the United Kingdom have been grounded as a precautionary measure after a fuel issue was detected on a North West Air Ambulance on Wednesday.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) provides a vital, quick-response service to patients across the region and was on the Island as recently as Tuesday.
The National Police Air Support helicopter from West Sussex, which covers the Isle of Wight, has not been suspended. The Coastguard Rescue Helicopter is also not effected by the grounding.
UPDATE @ 15:38 – The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has been cleared to fly once again, it has been confirmed.
Island Echo’s photograph above shows the correct helicopter operated by HIOWAA.
