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Macedonia crash kills 11 soldiers | Macedonia crash kills 11 soldiers |
(3 days later) | |
A military helicopter from Macedonia taking soldiers home from peacekeeping duty in Bosnia-Hercegovina has crashed, killing all 11 people on board. | |
The aircraft went down south-east of the Macedonian capital, Skopje. The cause of the crash is unclear, but officials described it as an accident. | The aircraft went down south-east of the Macedonian capital, Skopje. The cause of the crash is unclear, but officials described it as an accident. |
Skopje airport was closed for two hours after the incident. | Skopje airport was closed for two hours after the incident. |
The transport helicopter was returning soldiers from a tour of duty in the EU-led peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. | The transport helicopter was returning soldiers from a tour of duty in the EU-led peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. |
'Terrible accident' | 'Terrible accident' |
The Mi-17 helicopter crashed around 1100 GMT as it prepared to land, officials said. | The Mi-17 helicopter crashed around 1100 GMT as it prepared to land, officials said. |
A police spokesman Ivo Kotevski said the aircraft came down and burst into flames near a village of Katlanovo, about 10km (six miles) south-east of Skopje. | A police spokesman Ivo Kotevski said the aircraft came down and burst into flames near a village of Katlanovo, about 10km (six miles) south-east of Skopje. |
Witnesses said they saw a fireball on impact. | Witnesses said they saw a fireball on impact. |
Those killed in the crash included two helicopter crew members. | Those killed in the crash included two helicopter crew members. |
"This is a terrible accident, a great tragedy and a great loss," said Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski, after visiting the site of the crash. | "This is a terrible accident, a great tragedy and a great loss," said Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski, after visiting the site of the crash. |
An investigation is under way. | An investigation is under way. |