Five Ecuadorian soldiers were killed when an army helicopter crashed near the capital Quito, EFE news agency reported on Saturday quoting military sources.
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The Gazelle helicopter was on a routine flight from the La Balbina army base near Quito to Aerial Group No 43, when it crashed near San Miguel de los Bancos, some 100 km northwest of Quito, the army said, adding that all five soldiers aboard were killed.
The reason behind the crash was not yet clear and an investigation into the accident has been ordered.
Gazelle helicopters are small aircraft which the Ecuadorian army has flown for decades and are used for surveillance and transport missions.
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