THREE people have died and one person remains in a serious condition after a helicopter crashed during a lesson today, cops have confirmed.

Emergency crews raced to the scene after the chopper came down near the A3020 Shanklin Road, Isle of Wight, shortly before 9.30am.

The chopper was being used for a flying lesson this morning and had four people on board, including the pilot, the operator Northumbria Helicopters has said.

A spokesperson for the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary said: “We can confirm that three people have died following a helicopter crash on the Isle of Wight this morning.

“Four people in total were on board, with one person currently in hospital in a serious condition.

“At this time we are unable to provide further information about the people involved, as efforts continue to contact and support their families.

“We will not be commenting on the circumstances of the incident but continue to work alongside the Air Accident Investigation Branch.”

Police declared a “major incident” shortly after the crash but it has since been stood down.

Photos from the scene show part of the wreck on the road, while emergency crews work nearby.

Shanklin Road is currently closed and the police have urged people to avoid the area.

Witness, Leigh Goldsmith, told the Isle of Wight County Press she was driving towards Shanklin when she saw the helicopter “spiralling” before it went out of sight and came down in a hedge.

She said she was the first person on the scene and saw there were four people on board.

She also believed the airbags had been activated.

The chopper is believed to have lifted off from the nearby Sandown Airport on Monday morning.

Flight radar reveals that the chopper was only in the air for seven minutes before it crashed in a field near Shanklin Road.

The MP for Isle of Wight East, Joe Robertson, told Times Radio the deaths were “heartbreaking.”

Speaking to John Pienaar, he said: “It’s heartbreaking. What should have been a fun morning out on a helicopter flight on Bank Holiday Monday has turned to tragedy with the death of three people and a fourth of course is seriously ill.

“It’s heartbreaking and I know the local community here on the island are in shock, frankly.”

Mr Robertson added: “I know that here on the island people pull together and support one another and I’d just like to reiterate my thanks to the emergency services who were on the scene very quickly and have done an amazing job, but sadly have been unable to ensure the survival of those people who went in the helicopter.”

Northumbria Helicopters offers a range of charter flights and pilot training on its website.

Customers can purchase gift experiences for helicopter trial lessons as well as sightseeing tours.

A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance said: “We have treated and airlifted one patient to the Major Trauma Centre, University Hospital Southampton.

“Our thoughts are with them, and everyone involved in today’s incident.”

They had previously confirmed an Air Ambulance had been deployed at 09.28 this morning to an incident near Ventnor.

A Critical Care Team were on the scene consisting of a doctor and a specialist paramedic.

A spokesperson for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Police said earlier today: “We were called at 9.24am to a report that a helicopter had come down in a field near the A3020 Shanklin Road.

“The road is closed due to the number of emergency services vehicles at the scene, so please avoid the area at this time.

“A major incident was called at 9.47am to support the coordination of the emergency response but this has since been stood down.

“There has been a multi-agency response to the scene, including colleagues from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, and the Air Accident Investigation Branch.”

A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “Firefighters from Newport, Ventnor and Shanklin were called out shortly before 09.30am on Monday, August 25, following reports of a light aircraft incident near Shanklin Road.”