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| Minister suspended over air crash | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Sierra Leone's Transport Minister, Prince Harding, has been suspended pending an investigation into the cause of Sunday's helicopter crash. | |
| Three days of mourning have been announced for the 22 people who died at Sierra Leone's main airport. | Three days of mourning have been announced for the 22 people who died at Sierra Leone's main airport. |
| The helicopter had previously been grounded after failing safety checks. Mr Harding has denied any wrongdoing. | The helicopter had previously been grounded after failing safety checks. Mr Harding has denied any wrongdoing. |
| Sierra Leone's two top aviation officials have also been suspended and all commercial helicopters grounded. | Sierra Leone's two top aviation officials have also been suspended and all commercial helicopters grounded. |
| A presidential statement said an investigation was being launched into how the airline was allowed to resume flights. | A presidential statement said an investigation was being launched into how the airline was allowed to resume flights. |
| Mr Harding said he would co-operate fully with the investigations. | |
| Among the dead was Togolese Sports Minister Richard Attipoe. | Among the dead was Togolese Sports Minister Richard Attipoe. |
| The passengers were returning from watching Togo beat Sierra Leone 1-0 in an African Nations Cup qualifier. | The passengers were returning from watching Togo beat Sierra Leone 1-0 in an African Nations Cup qualifier. |
| The Togolese passengers had chartered the helicopter for the seven-minute flight from the city to the airport. | The Togolese passengers had chartered the helicopter for the seven-minute flight from the city to the airport. |
| 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. |
| One of the two Ukrainian pilots survived when the helicopter burst into flames as it came into land. | One of the two Ukrainian pilots survived when the helicopter burst into flames as it came into land. |
| The remains of the passengers are expected to be flown back to Lome in Togo on Wednesday. | The remains of the passengers are expected to be flown back to Lome in Togo on Wednesday. |