Five dead after two army helicopters crash in France

Five people have died after two army helicopters crashed near a lake in south eastern France.

The crash occurred at 10.15 on Friday morning between the towns of Cabasse and Carces in the Var department of southern France, 50 kilometres from Saint Tropez.

"The helicopters collided. There were three crew in one and two in the other.

All are dead," police said in the nearby town of Brignoles, adding that one body had still to be recovered from the wreckage.
  

The Var region prefecture said two army aviation service helicopters based at nearby Cannet-des-Maures collided near Carces lake.

 Some 20 troops joined two rescue helicopters and a police chopper at the crash scene, along with local officials.

The local police prefecture of Var confirmed earlier that there were "several fatalities" and that it had set up an emergency crisis centre at the scene. 

The police said the helicopters were from the Army’s School of Light Aviation (EALAT).

Source: The Local of France