US Nat'l Guard copter with 6 crashes in Puerto Rico

[December 21, 2010]  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- Authorities in Puerto Rico say a U.S. National Guard helicopter with six people aboard crashed en route to the neighboring island of Vieques.

U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Ricardo Castrodad says two of the passengers were prosecutors with the local justice department and the other four were officials with the National Guard, three of them crew members.

He said the helicopter was headed toward a drug raid in Vieques when it disappeared late Monday.

The helicopter apparently changed its route because of bad weather.

[Associated Press]

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