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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Nigerian military plane crashes in Niger; 2 dead

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — An airport official in the capital of Niger says a military plane from Nigeria has crashed, killing the two people aboard.

Chaibou Massalatchi, the head of Niamey's airport, said the plane had taken off Monday to do a reconnaissance mission.

The Nigerian military is taking part in the regional effort to support France's operation in northern Mali.

Nigerian Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade said two pilots were killed when the Alpha jet fighter went down 37 miles (60 kilometers) west of Niamey.

France launched the military operation in January to oust al-Qaida-linked jihadists from power in northern Mali.

Some 6,000 troops from neighboring countries including Nigeria and Niger have been taking part, though Chad has said it's withdrawing its nearly 2,000 soldiers.

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NATO: F-16 crashes in Afghanistan, killing pilot

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — NATO says an American F-16 fighter jet has crashed in eastern Afghanistan, killing the U.S. pilot.

NATO said in a statement Thursday that the cause of Wednesday's crash is still being investigated, but initial reporting indicates that there was "no insurgent activity in the area" when the plane went down.

The U.S.-led military coalition did not disclose where the plane crashed.

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Congo: Airplane crashes in eastern city of Goma

GOMA, Congo (AP) — A plane crash in the eastern city of Goma has killed 36 passengers, according to Congolese officials.

A Fokker airplane of the private airline CAA was carrying 40 people and only four people survived, said Goma's mayor Naasson Kubuya.

The plane was flying from Lodja in East Kasai Province in the center of the country. The aircraft crashed in the center of Goma, near the electoral commission's building, but it did not hit any people on the ground, he said.

"The pilot managed to avoid houses," said Kubuya. "It's a horrifying accident. The city of Goma has become a field of disasters. We sympathize with the families of the deceased."

Last year, a plane crash in the city of Bukavu killed President Joseph Kabila's personal adviser, Augustin Katumba.

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Mwanamilongo contributed from Kinshasa, Congo.

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