CZECH REPUBLIC: Six British soldiers were killed when their Lynx helicopter crashed and burst into flames during a training exercise in the Czech Republic yesterday, both countries said.
Czech Defence Ministry spokesman Mr Andrej Cirtek said the soldiers had been taking part in a Czech-British military exercise when they crashed in the small town of Namest Nad Oslavou about 200 km east of Prague.
The British Ministry of Defence confirmed the death toll in a separate statement.
"We can confirm six fatalities, no survivors. Two crew and four passengers. All army soldiers," a spokeswoman said.
The Czech ministry said the exercises, called "Flying Rhino", that began on Tuesday, had been stopped and that an investigation had begun. The operations involved British and Czech military aircraft. Some 450 British personnel were taking part.
A witness at the scene said the helicopter was flying at low altitude in clear weather when its propeller clipped some overhead high-voltage power lines.
The aircraft then spun out of control, hit the ground and burst into flames.
"I heard two bangs, and then a third and immediately dark smoke started rising up," said Mr Jiri Lysak (78), who lives nearby.
"It was burning and some ammunition or something was exploding.
"A part of the chopper's tail lay about five metres away and the helicopter itself was on fire on the river bank."
Mr Peter Wickenden, spokesman for the British Embassy in Prague, said British officials were also investigating.
No one on the ground was reported injured.