Helicopter crashes in southeastern France, 5 dead

French officials say a helicopter has crashed in southeastern France and that five people were killed.

French officials say a helicopter has crashed in southeastern France and that five people were killed.

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Francis Mene, a security official for southern France, said the helicopter crashed while carrying out a test flight on Wednesday deep in the Verdon Gorge, a popular hiking destination.

Mene, who spoke on BFM-TV, said the helicopter belonged to the company Eurocopter.

An army official, Lt Col Pierre-Yves Sarzaud, confirmed the details and said the aircraft was civilian, not military.