Albania: Military helicopter crashes, 2 killed and 1 injured

TIRANA, Albania – A military helicopter crashed in northern Albania on Wednesday, killing two crew members and injuring the other, officials said.

The helicopter crashed early Wednesday afternoon at the Shkodra Lake, near the village of Grizhe, local mayor Tonin Marinaj said. The site is 67 miles north of the capital, Tirana.

Albania’s defense ministry said that the EC145 helicopter with three crew members on board was on a training mission. It said one of the crew was taken to a hospital, and Health Minister Ilir Beqja said he had a broken arm.

Shkodra prefect Paulin Radovani said the bodies of the two other crew members were recovered from the wreck of the aircraft.

There was no immediate word on what caused the crash. Local media said that residents reported hearing an explosion before the helicopter crashed into the lake.