India helicopter crashes, killing five: police

MUMBAI: A privately-operated helicopter crashed in western India on Sunday, killing all five people on board, a police officer said.

The officer said the helicopter crashed in a remote part of Maharashtra state some time after leaving the financial hub of Mumbai.

"All the five occupants of the helicopter are dead," the police duty officer said by telephone from Thane district.

The helicopter crashed in Thane while en route to another district called Aurangabad, the officer said.

The Press Trust of India news agency said the helicopter crashed after coming into contact with power cables.

No further details of the accident were immediately known.

"Our entire police team is at the site which is 18 kilometres (11 miles) from the police station and we are also awaiting details of the accident," the duty officer added.

The Hindustan Times newspaper's online edition said two pilots and three passengers were on board. (AFP)