Newsday

Seven Die in Saudi Helicopter Crash

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- A Saudi air force helicopter caught fire and crashed moments after takeoff Sunday, killing all seven people on board, a Saudi official said.

The helicopter crashed just after taking off from a military base in Qassim in northern Saudi Arabia, said the official, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity.

The cause of the fire and crash were not immediately known. Three of the dead were officers, said the official, who did not specify their ranks or the make of the helicopter.

AP-NY-11-19-00 0419EST< 

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), November 19, 2000