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US aid helicopter crash on Indonesian island

Sumatra - Helicopter crash
Sumatra - Helicopter crash

A US helicopter crashed on the Indonesian island of Sumatra as aid agencies struggled to reach survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed more than 155,000 people.

At least four crew were injured when a US Navy Seahawk helicopter, which was carrying aid, crashed into a paddy field shortly after dawn today.

Officials said it had flown from an aircraft carrier that was moored off the Sumatra coast.

Relief operations on the northern part of the island were briefly suspended after the crash, the cause of which was not immediately known.

A spokesman said all ten people on board survived.