Sierra Leone helicopter crashes, 21 killed
A privately-owned shuttle helicopter operating between Sierra Leonean capital and Lungi international airport crashed Sunday evening, killing 21 of the 22 people on board, an airport official said.
The Paramount Airlines helicopter, owned by a Nigerian businessman, caught fire as it was descending in preparation for landing at the airport, senior airport maintenance officer Alfred Yelinkeh told AFP.
"It was shocking to see the helicopter disintegrating," Yelinkeh said.
Most of the dead were supporters of the Togo national football team, including the country's sports minister who had travelled to Freetown to cheer their team which played Sierra Leone in an African cup of Nations elimination match, according to this official and a local radio station.
The survivor, who witnesses said is in critical condition, is one of the two pilots that flew the helicopter