Police helicopter crashes in South Africa

21/11/2007 12:09 JOHANNESBURG, Nov 21 (AFP)

Police helicopter crashes in South Africa

A helicopter carrying 19 people, including 14 South African police officers and five air force officials, crashed near the border with Lesotho on Wednesday, police said.

"The helicopter was doing normal routine patrolling in the border of Lesotho," police spokesman Superintendent Sam Makhele told AFP.

"There were 14 people in the helicopter who were police officals, three crew members from the air force and two officers of the air force.

"As far as we know people were injured. We have not learned of any fatalities but we will know as we arrive at the scene."

The Oryx helicopter crashed near the border of South Africa and Lesotho in the southern part of the Free State province.

©2007 AFP