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Colombia copter collision kills 6, including general
AFP April 20

A collision between a military helicopter and a civilian chopper in Colombia today killed six servicemen, among them a general, and injured five people, armed forces officials said.

The accident occurred in the central town of Chaparral between the military Huey aircraft and the Bell 222 helicopter during take-off, they said.

The general, Fernando Joya Duarte, died of his injuries in hospital, along with two colonels, a captain, a navy lieutenant and a flight navigator.

Joya headed up a unit fighting FARC rebels in the area, and had been returning from a ceremony.

The five people injured were being treated in hospital, and the causes of the accident were being investigated by the army.

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