Heavy casualties in Hanoi helicopter crash (VOV) - A helicopter on a training mission crashed in Hanoi’s outlying district of Thach That on the morning of July 7, killing 16 soldiers and injuring five on board, local media reported. The incident occurred at around 7:45 (Hanoi time) in hamlet No.11 of Thach Hoa commune shortly after the helicopter took off from Hoa Lac airport. The Russian-built Mi-171 was said to lose altitude and hit the ground before exploding near a local market. The blaze was put out at around 08.30. On board the helicopter were 21 soldiers who were undertaking a parachute training mission, Dan Tri news wire reported. Nguyen Manh Hong, Vice Chairman of the Thach That District People's Committee, said emergency response fire fighting and medical teams are en route to the scene. The site was cordoned off for investigation. VOV