Helicopter crash in eastern Belgium kills two

Helicopter crash in eastern Belgium kills two

2011-10-18 22:12:11 GMT+7 (ICT)

SOUMAGNE, BELGIUM (BNO NEWS) -- Two people were killed on early Tuesday afternoon when a helicopter crashed near a residential area in eastern Belgium while carrying out aerial surveillance, police said. There were no survivors.

The accident happened at around 12.45 p.m. local time when the aircraft crashed in a field in Soumagne, a municipality in Liege province. It happened just a short distance from a neighborhood in the town of Micheroux.

Police said two people who were on board the aircraft, a pilot and a co-pilot, were killed on impact. Their identities were not immediately released, but the helicopter was owned by the Spa-based Heli & Co. company and flying for Fluxys, which acts as a natural gas operator.

Fluxys said the helicopter was carrying out aerial surveillance on its pipeline system in the area when the accident happened. "The staff and management of Fluxys are deeply moved by the death of the pilot and his colleague in this tragic accident and we would like to extend our sincere condolences to their families and friends," Fluxys said in a statement. "Fluxys is in contact with the helicopter company to ascertain how best to offer support."

There were no casualties on the ground.

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