5 killed in Australia copter crash

Police say chartered helicopter took off from Moorabbin Airport before crashing in northern Victoria

ANKARA (AA) - At least five people were killed in a helicopter crash in southeastern Australia on Thursday, officials said.

Mount Disappointment, the scene of the crash, is located 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Melbourne, the capital of Victoria state.

According to Victoria police, the chartered copter is believed to have taken off from Moorabbin Airport before picking up passengers in Batman Park in the morning before crashing in northern Victoria.

"Police Air Wing located the wreckage in the vicinity of Blair’s Hut. Sadly, the pilot and four passengers died at the scene," said a police statement.

The cause of the crash has yet to be determined and will be investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, it added.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid

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