The wreckage of a police helicopter is lifted from the collapsed roof of Clutha pub in Glasgow on Tuesday, December 2. Eight people have been killed and 14 seriously injured since a police aircraft crashed into a downtown pub.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
The wreckage of a police helicopter is lifted from the collapsed roof of Clutha pub in Glasgow on Tuesday, December 2. Eight people have been killed and 14 seriously injured since a police aircraft crashed into a downtown pub.
Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images
Rescuers work to lift the police helicopter wreckage from the roof of the pub on December 2.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
Rescuers work to lift the police helicopter wreckage from the roof of the pub on December 2.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
A police officer lays flowers new the pub on Sunday, December 1.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
A police officer lays flowers new the pub on Sunday, December 1.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Members of the public wait on Sunday to lay flowers near to the Clutha pub in Glasgow.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
Members of the public wait on Sunday to lay flowers near to the Clutha pub in Glasgow.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Rescue workers in Glasgow, Scotland, tend to the scene Saturday, November 30, where a police helicopter crashed into the Clutha Bar.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
Rescue workers in Glasgow, Scotland, tend to the scene Saturday, November 30, where a police helicopter crashed into the Clutha Bar.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
The damaged helicopter rests on the roof of the Clutha Bar.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
The damaged helicopter rests on the roof of the Clutha Bar.
PA PHOTOS/LANDOV
Emergency workers sift through wreckage.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
Emergency workers sift through wreckage.
Scott Heppell/AP
Rescue workers search for survivors inside the pub.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
Rescue workers search for survivors inside the pub.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Emergency crews arrive at the scene of the crash.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
Emergency crews arrive at the scene of the crash.
courtesy Jan Hollands
Police markings can be seen on some of the helicopter wreckage.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
Police markings can be seen on some of the helicopter wreckage.
Courtesy Jan Hollands
Emergency workers inspect the roof of the pub.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
Emergency workers inspect the roof of the pub.
AFP PHOTO/ANDY BUCHANAN
Emergency workers gather near the scene of the crash.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
Emergency workers gather near the scene of the crash.
Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images
The helicopter, carrying two police officers and a civilian pilot, crashed on the roof of the pub at 10:25 p.m., according to Scottish police.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
The helicopter, carrying two police officers and a civilian pilot, crashed on the roof of the pub at 10:25 p.m., according to Scottish police.
Rex/Rex USA
Emergency responders work on the wreckage on top of the pub.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
Emergency responders work on the wreckage on top of the pub.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said there were "multiple ambulances and a special operations team on site."
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said there were "multiple ambulances and a special operations team on site."
Rex/Rex USA
The crash occurred as patrons listened to the self-styled ska band Esperanza, which had taken the stage at the pub a short time earlier.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
The crash occurred as patrons listened to the self-styled ska band Esperanza, which had taken the stage at the pub a short time earlier.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Witnesses reported seeing people who appeared injured running from The Clutha pub after the crash.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
Witnesses reported seeing people who appeared injured running from The Clutha pub after the crash.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Rescue workers gather near the scene of the crash.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
Rescue workers gather near the scene of the crash.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
The helicopter continued to smolder hours after the crash.
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub —
The helicopter continued to smolder hours after the crash.
Rex/Rex USA
Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub

Story highlights

Locals in Glasgow stunned by crash of a police helicopter into a busy pub

Accident killed at least nine people and left at least 14 seriously injured

Richard Quest says no one pushed to escape; instead they set up human chains

Rescue is dangerous since wrong move could bring down the rest of the building

Glasgow, Scotland CNN  — 

There is a feeling of palpable shock in the Merchant district of Glasgow after a police helicopter crashed into a the Clutha bar, which was packed with about 150 people. The accident, which killed at least nine people and left at least 14 seriously injured, happened in a bustling part of the city, where the drinks are served strong and the nightlife goes late.

What’s been remarkable are the stories of how people behaved on the night. There are no tales of people pushing and climbing over each other to get out. Rather the opposite is true – those inside set up chain gangs to move debris, helping the injured get out. Passerby including a local Member of Parliament rushed towards the danger to help out.

Next to the crash site is the local Holiday Inn, which has remained open throughout. It makes an odd sight: cranes and rescue workers digging through the debris of the collapsed pub while guests at the hotel drag their bags up and down the closed roads passing the media and having their names checked by the police to get back in the hotel.

The Clutha was a pub everyone knew and loved with a feeling of community. One man who was there on Friday night came to lay flowers, his head fully bandaged, and with cuts on his face from injuries he received in the crash. Moira, who turned up to lay flowers at the scene of the crash, told me she would regularly go there to hang out and hear music. She had decided not to go last Friday night.

Rescue workers attend the scene at a pub on Stockwell Street where a police helicopter crashed on the banks of the River Clyde November 30, 2013 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Rescue workers attend the scene at a pub on Stockwell Street where a police helicopter crashed on the banks of the River Clyde November 30, 2013 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
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All weekend Glaswegians have been coming to get as close as they can to see the crash site with the helicopter rotors just sticking out from the roof. And in the streets around the pub the police continue to go door to door asking finding out what people may have seen.

The locals are calling this unthinkable and even those who were nowhere near the site are dazed when they come here and see what happened.

There is now the slow, painstaking work of removing the helicopter from the pub, piece by piece. So far the rotors have been dismantled and now they are planning how to lift the body of the aircraft out of the building. It is dangerous since the slightest wrong move could bring down the rest of the building and potentially injure the rescuers.

The Chief Constable of Police Scotland summed up this tragedy. Paraphrasing he said imagine the scene, you are having a drink and a good night out when a helicopter crashes through the roof. This is the awfulness of what happened here: the very ordinary suddenly became out of this world.