Helicopter crashes in Romania with 6 Israeli soldiers, 1 Romanian; no details about survivors

Copter with 6 Israeli soldiers crashes in Romania

BUCHAREST, Romania — The defense ministry says a helicopter carrying one Romanian and six Israeli soldiers has crashed in the mountainous terrain of central Romania.

Defense ministry spokesman Constantin Spanu says there is no information on whether there are survivors. He said officials were scrambling to reach the accident site near the town Zarnesti, some 120 kilometers (75 miles) northwest of Bucharest.

Spanu said the Israeli transport helicopter CH-53 was flying at low altitude and lost radio contact mid-afternoon Monday.

Romanian and Israeli troops are taking part in Blue Sky 2010, 11-day joint aviation exercises where troops are trained to fly at low altitude in search, rescue and medical evacuation exercises.