Nigeria military helicopter crashes in oil delta

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A Nigerian military helicopter has crashed in the country's oil-rich southern delta, just days after one of its jets crashed.

A statement from Nigeria's Air Force said the crash happened Thursday morning at its base in Port Harcourt and that the crew escaped unharmed. Local witnesses described seeing a plume of smoke rise from the base.

The air force identified the helicopter as a Russian-made Mi-24B attack helicopter. The statement said an investigation into the cause of the crash has started.

Nigeria has a history of major aviation crashes, both with civilian aircraft and military airplanes. On Monday, a Nigerian Air Force Alpha jet fighter crashed 37 miles (60 kilometers) west of Niamey, the capital of Niger, killing two pilots.

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