Timeline as grounded RAF Odiham Chinook leaves Bromyard

The sight that greeted commuters on the B4214 near Bromyard on May 7 (Image: Kayleigh Trafford)

Commuters and neighbours were first greeted with the sight of the huge military aircraft in a field off the B4214 Tenbury Road in Edwyn Ralph, near Bromyard, on May 7, with the helicopters rotors seen peeking over the field's hedge.

The Chinook was stranded in a field near Bromyard after running into technical issues (Image: Hereford Times)

The Ministry of Defence later confirmed to the Hereford Times that the Chinook had made a precautionary landing due to a "technical issue", adding that the crew was safe.

RAF crew outside the Chinook at Edwyn Ralph (Image: Katie Parry)

Neighbours said the helicopter had landed at around 10pm the night before, attempting a take off at around 3am before giving up.

The Chinook's crew headed home to RAF Odiham, with a replacement crew taking over (Image: Will Butler)

While Herefordians are well used to the aircraft flying overhead, with the distinctive 'whocka-whocka' sound of the dual rotors instantly recognisable, the chance to see one close-up was a big draw.

Chinook grounded at Edwyn Ralph (Image: West Mercia Police)

The Chinook became quite a tourist attraction, with large numbers of people heading to the field to see the unusual sight, and police issuing a warning to drivers heading to see it on May 8.

RAF Odiham Chinook helicopter remains in a field near Bromyard due to a technical issue. May 10 2026. (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said they appreciated that the aircraft was a "rare sight", but reminded drivers to be mindful of their parking after receiving "a number of reports of vehicles causing obstructions to the road, which is a windy country road with little to no parking".

Ready to head home to RAF Odiham on Friday afternoon (Image: Hereford Times)

Work to repair the stricken Chinook began earlier this week, with military vehicles arriving on site and one of the aircraft's rotors disassembled. It is understood that the technical issue that grounded the Chinook was related to a gearbox, although this has not been confirmed by the MoD.

Preparing for take off! Rotors spinning as the RAF Odiham Chinook gears up to fly (Image: Hereford Times)

And with repairs nearing completion, a warning was issued to drone operators after a number had flown over the site, with hover tests set to take place and fears that drones could put the crew in danger.

The Chinook finally lifts off after more than a week in Herefordshire (Image: Hereford Times)

The Chinook was finally reassembled and ready to depart by Friday (May 15), after its lengthy stay in the field.

Plenty of people were out of their cars to watch the Chinook leave (Image: Hereford Times)

The B4214 was closed to traffic shortly after 4pm, with cars stopped and people getting out of their vehicles to watch it take to the skies.

The Chinook hovers over the field it spent more than a week in before heading home (Image: Hereford Times)

The crew was seen waving to the people who had gathered to watch its departure as it finally got airborne shortly after 4.30pm, heading off towards base at RAF Odiham.