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| Sierra Leona air crash kills 20 | Sierra Leona air crash kills 20 |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A helicopter ferrying passengers to Freetown airport in Sierra Leone has crashed, killing at least 20 people. | A helicopter ferrying passengers to Freetown airport in Sierra Leone has crashed, killing at least 20 people. |
| They had attended an international football match, and many of the dead are believed to be Togolese. | They had attended an international football match, and many of the dead are believed to be Togolese. |
| The dead reportedly included the pilot, who jumped out of the craft as it was approaching the airport. There is reportedly one survivor. | The dead reportedly included the pilot, who jumped out of the craft as it was approaching the airport. There is reportedly one survivor. |
| Helicopters and ferries are the only way to reach the airport, which is located across a bay from Freetown. | Helicopters and ferries are the only way to reach the airport, which is located across a bay from Freetown. |
| Most of the passengers had been watching Togo beat Sierra Leone 1-0 an African Nations Cup qualifier. | |
| The helicopter was operated by Paramount Airlines, and owned by a Nigerian businessman, according to an airline maintenance officer quoted by the AFP news agency. | |
| The officer said that it caught fire as it was coming in to land at the airport. | |
| A co-pilot has reportedly survived, but is in critical condition. |