This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6715937.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Sierra Leona air crash kills 20 | Sierra Leona air crash kills 20 |
(30 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 were reportedly from Togo and were returning from watching an international football match. | |
The two pilots came from Ukraine. They reportedly jumped out of the craft as it was approaching the airport, but only one survived. | |
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, and had chartered the helicopter for the seven-minute flight from the city to the airport. | |
The helicopter was a Russian-made Mi-8 | |
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 Lungi airport. | |
The Russian-made Mi-8 helicopter was consumed by the flames before airport fire crews could reach it. | |
The co-pilot has reportedly survived, but is in critical condition. | The co-pilot has reportedly survived, but is in critical condition. |