Russian helicopter crash injures at least 13

A giant Russian military helicopter crash-landed in Chechnya today, injuring at least 13 servicemen.

The Mi-26, which has a capacity of about 85 combat-equipped troops and five crew, went down near the military headquarters at Khankala, not far from the Chechen capital Grozny.

The Interfax news agency, citing an unnamed source in the military headquarters, reported that the aircraft had been shot down by rebels and that according to preliminary information, about 10 soldiers were killed.

However, Nikolai Deryabin of the Defence Ministry press office, said the pilot had requested permission to perform an emergency landing because an engine was on fire.