Czech army helicopter with five soldiers on board crashes, one dead

A Czech military helicopter crashed in the east of the country on Thursday, killing one of the five soldiers on board, the army said.

The crash happened at an army base in Namest nad Oslavou, 180 km (112 miles) southeast of Prague, it said in a statement.

"Our highest priority is now to provide all possible care and support to the injured soldiers and their loved ones," the army said. "We are also in contact with the family of the deceased soldier, to whom we are providing all necessary assistance."

Czech TV footage showed fire engines and what appeared to be the overturned body of a helicopter through a perimeter fence of the airbase.

Jihlava region rescue service spokesman Petr Janacek said three people were transferred to hospital in Brno with medium-severity injuries, while one with mild injuries was transferred to a hospital in Jihlava.

A further three people were taken to hospital in Trebic after inhaling smoke, he said.

The army said a UH-1Y Venom helicopter was involved in the crash. The UH-1Y Venom is a multi-purpose helicopter produced by Bell Textron and powered by two T700-GE-401C engines produced by General Electric GE.N.

It said the operation of all H-1 helicopters in the army had been suspended until an investigation is completed.