UPDATE - Midair chopper collision leaves 4 dead in Australia

UPDATES WITH POLICE STATEMENT; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Four people were killed and over a dozen others injured, including three in critical condition, after two helicopters collided midair in Australia on Monday, police said.

The collision happened in the coastal Main Beach area of Queensland.

“As a result of (collision), four people have lost their lives today, and we have three others who are critical in hospital," Queensland acting police inspector Gary Worrell told reporters.

He said the collision happened when one of the two choppers was taking off while the other one was landing.

“Those two aircraft then collided, have crashed and landed on the sandbank just out from Sea World resort,” the police officer said, according to SBS News.