Six hurt as Army chopper crashes

SIX members of the security forces were injured in an Army helicopter crash in South Armagh last night.

Four police officers and two soldiers were taken to hospital after the Lynx helicopter went down into a field close to the border village of Crossmaglen.

A spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said the extent of the injuries was not known.

There were seven members of the security forces in the helicopter — one of the flight crew escaped unhurt.

The PSNI spokesman said there was nothing to suggest the cause of the crash was terrorist-related. The North was hit by high winds and driving snow for much of the day as temperatures plunged suddenly.

There were reports one of the casualties was taken to the Craigavon Area Hospital by air while the others were taken in ambulances to the Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry. The area around the scene of the crash was sealed off and a full examination will be carried out at first daylight – with a full military inquiry to follow.

Local Sinn Féin MP Conor Murphy said the helicopter had come down close to a densely populated Lismore Park area. The MP for Newry and Armagh, said while details were uncertain it was clear a serious incident had occurred.

The British Army is due to pull out of the joint security base in Crossmaglen at the end of the month as part of the peace process normalisation. However those working in the base in the village square are still currently airlifted in and out to carry out their duties.