Three killed in Sudanese military helicopter crash

June 6, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Three people were killed on Thursday when a military helicopter crashed in the capital of the Blue Nile state.

The army spokesperson Colonel Al-Sawarmi Khalid Sa’ad earlier said that two people were killed in the accident which took place in the town of al-Damzain and resulted from the chopper crashing into an electricity tower.

But the pro-government Ashorooq TV reported that one extra person perished as a result of the crash.

Col. Sa’ad insisted that the helicopter was on a training mission and offered no further details.

The governor of the state Hassan Yassin said the swift response helped reduce the toll and hailed the residents’ cooperation with authorities.

He said there were no casualties among civilians.

Aviation accidents in Sudan are common and authorities routinely blame it on technical failures.

The Blue Nile state is the scene of fighting between the government and the Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N).

In 2011, Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir sacked SPLM-N chairman Malik Agar from his post as governor of the state following clashes between the army and SPLM-N fighters. Each side blamed the other for instigating the fighting.

(ST)