Twenty-two killed in helicopter crash
A helicopter ferrying passengers to Sierra Leone’s main airport crashed, bursting into flames and killing at least 20 people, radio stations and a witness at the airport said.
One station, Kalleone FM, said 22 people died, including a pilot who jumped from the helicopter as it crashed at the airport last night, local time.
A witness at the airport said at least 20 were killed, including Togolese soccer fans who had watched their team beat Sierra Leone 1-0 in an African Nations Cup qualifying match earlier.
The witness said the helicopter apparently developed a problem in the air and its two pilots jumped out – one survived and was taken to hospital.
She said the helicopter burst into flames upon crashing, and was destroyed before airport firefighters could put out the flames.
Helicopters and a sea ferry are the only ways to get to the airport, located across a bay from the capital, Freetown, which is on the Atlantic Ocean.
In 2001, a United Nations helicopter travelling from UN headquarters in Sierra Leone to the airport crashed into the bay, killing all seven aboard.
The UN blamed a mechanical problem.
