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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. |
The 19 passengers are reportedly from Togo and were returning from watching an international football match. | |
The two pilots came from Ukraine. One died after jumping 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. |
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 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. | The officer said that it caught fire as it was coming in to land at the airport. |
The co-pilot has reportedly survived, but is in critical condition. |