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Army helicopter crashes near base | Army helicopter crashes near base |
(10 minutes later) | |
A military helicopter has crashed into a field in south Armagh. | A military helicopter has crashed into a field in south Armagh. |
It happened in the village of Crossmaglen just before 1800 GMT on Sunday at Foxfield Road, close to a British army base and a housing estate. | |
Four police officers and two military personnel were taken to hospital. One person who was on-board escaped injury. No civillians were hurt in the crash. | Four police officers and two military personnel were taken to hospital. One person who was on-board escaped injury. No civillians were hurt in the crash. |
The cause of the accident is not yet clear, but police said there was no indication of any terrorist link. | The cause of the accident is not yet clear, but police said there was no indication of any terrorist link. |
It is understood at least one of the casualties was airlifted to Craigavon Area Hospital while others were taken to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry. | |
Eyewitnesses said the helicopter had clipped a fence near the Lismore housing estate before crashing in the field. | |
Helicopters take staff to and from Crossmaglen police stationLocal Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy said the crash had happened near a densely populated area. | |
SDLP assembly member Dominic Bradley said he had expressed concerns in the past about helicopter flights in the area. | SDLP assembly member Dominic Bradley said he had expressed concerns in the past about helicopter flights in the area. |
"These flights pose a threat to the safety of local people as well as to police personnel," he said. | "These flights pose a threat to the safety of local people as well as to police personnel," he said. |
Last month, the Army guard post at Crossmaglen police station was removed as part of the government's plans to scale down the military presence in Northern Ireland. | Last month, the Army guard post at Crossmaglen police station was removed as part of the government's plans to scale down the military presence in Northern Ireland. |
The site has been transformed for use solely as a police station. | The site has been transformed for use solely as a police station. |