The PPA was notified of the incident between Väike-Vilsandi and Estonia's largest island, Saaremaa, at 11.15 a.m. The agency dispatched a rescue operation to the location. 

The seven people on board, five adults and two children, were picked up by Vilsandi volunteer maritime rescue unit. The volunteers reached the crash site within 20 minutes and took them to shore and then to a nearby farmhouse to warm up.

Medical personnel checked everyone's vital signs, and none of them required further medical attention, the PPA said.

The downed helicopter was located about 500 meters from shore.

PPA official Andres Tiik said the aircraft overturned in the water and remained afloat. The floats beneath the helicopter doors deployed automatically, and the people on board exited the helicopter on their own and waited on top of the aircraft for rescuers to arrive.

Tiik said that, according to current information, the helicopter departed from Vilsandi and was headed toward Tallinn.

What exactly happened in the air is still being investigated.

"We are in communication with the Safety Investigation Bureau and are fully cooperating to determine the causes of the accident, as well as the pilot's flight experience. We know that a flight instructor was also on board the helicopter," he said.

Tiik added that this was a fortunate accident, as everyone escaped essentially with just a scare and all are alive and well.

"The fall was significant, and in cases like this the damage could easily have been much more severe. The rescue operation went quickly and smoothly, and the helicopter was towed from the sea right away. No fuel leaked from the helicopter after it fell, and no pollution resulted from the accident," the offiical said.

Newspaper Õhtuleht reported that the helicopter belongs to the Estonian automotive company SilberAuto. CEO Margus Juhkam confirmed that everyone on board the helicopter escaped unharmed and is in good health.

"We understand the interest in the cause of the incident, but unfortunately, it can only be determined through a thorough investigation," Juhkam said, adding the family is deeply grateful to the emergency services and volunteers who assisted them.

Two-minute flight

The website flightrader24.com showed the route the helicopter took on Sunday morning from Vilsandi island and its abrupt end just off the island's northeast coast.

The Airbus Helicopters H130's journey is recorded as lasting from 11.06 a.m. to 11.08 a.m. by the website.

This article was updated to add additional information about the crash and comments from the PPA. Then again to add new photos and comments from Margus Juhkam.

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