Deaths in Colombian helicopter crash

Thirteen reportedly killed as air force helicopter crashes near Caribbean coast in town of Sabanagrande.

Colombia helicopter crash
Colombia's air force says on its website that the Bell 212 helicopter crashed at 4:30pm local time [AFP]

A Colombian air force helicopter has crashed near the Caribbean coast and all 13 people aboard have been killed, officials said.

Atlantico state civil defence director Jorge Fernandez said the aircraft crashed in a field in a rural area of the town of Sabanagrande.

Two officials who spoke on condition of annonimity put the death toll at 13.

They said the aircraft caught fire as it fell to the ground and that police and air force personnel were aboard.

Colombia’s air force says on its website that the Bell 212 helicopter crashed at 4:30pm local time and that the incident is under investigation.

Source: News Agencies