16 killed in Vietnam helicopter crash

At least 16 people were killed and five injured Monday when a military helicopter crashed near Vietnam's capital city of Hanoi.

According to officials, the crash occurred at 7.45 a.m in Hoa Lac of Thach That district during a parachute training exercise, Xinhua reported.

The Russian-made Mi-171 helicopter belonging to Vietnam's air force took off from Hoa Lac Airport in Hanoi's western district of Thach That at 7.30 a.m. with 21 people on-board, the officials said.

Some 16 minutes later, it came down in Hoa Lac village, about 3 km from the airport.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.