Army helicopter crashes in S. Algeria, killing 12

Accident occurred due to technical failure, Defense Ministry says

Army helicopter crashes in S. Algeria, killing 12

A military helicopter on Sunday crashed in Algeria's southern Rakan region due to what the country’s defense ministry has described as a "technical failure".

According to a ministry statement, 12 soldiers were killed and two others seriously injured when the helicopter crashed while flying a "routine mission".

Deputy Defense Minister Ahmed Gaid Salah has since ordered an investigation into the incident.