Ukraine helicopter crash kills 5

A Ukrainian helicopter belonging to the interior ministry crashed in the center of the country, killing all five people on board.

The Mi-8 helicopter crashed into the ground shortly after taking off from an airport in the city of Olexandriya in the Kirovograd region, about 320 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of the capital of Kiev, reported BBC News. Three crew members and two engineers died.

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According to the Associated Press, investigators are working to determine what caused Tuesday night's crash. Helicopter accidents are common in former Soviet countries because of poor maintenance, disregard for safety regulations and cost cutting.

BBC correspondents said that Mi-8 helicopters are usually deployed by the ministry to transport internal troops.