5 killed in twin helicopter crash in France

Paris [France], Feb 2 (ANI): Five people have died after two army helicopters collided and crashed in a dense forest area in southern France on Friday.

The French police authorities, who were present at the site, said that the Gazelle helicopters both of which belonged to the Ealat military flight training school in nearby Le-Cannet-des-Maures due to "technical reasons" between Cabasse and Carces, the Sky News reported.

As per the local media reports, two rescue aircrafts, consisting of around 20 troops and more than 30 police officers were sent to investigate the crash and to launch rescue operations.

The rescue operations were underway to trace a sixth person, who was said to be aboard on the helicopter. So far, five persons have been officially dead.

French defence minister Florence Parly will travel to the crash site later in the day. He had expressed "great sadness" at the news of the crash in a post on Twitter.

Also, three people were confirmed to have been on one helicopter, with two on the other.

The police authorities implied that the area was uninhabited and that no one on the ground was injured. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI