Cambodia helicopter crash kills three

Three people were killed and one injured when a military helicopter crashed during take-off in Cambodia.

The Russian-made MI-17 chopper crashed and exploded into flames soon after it took off, at around 0910 local time (0210 GMT).

Officials said the helicopter was leaving to pick up visiting Vietnamese military officials when it crashed at an air base in the capital, Phnom Penh.

The cause of the crash has not been confirmed, although Cambodian Co-Minister of Defence Tea Banh said it was caused by a technical fault.

The three dead, a pilot and two crew members, were killed immediately. The injured crew member was taken to hospital for treatment.

"The helicopter was about five metres (15 feet) off the ground when it started to shake.

"The rear rotor blade hit the ground and it crashed," district military police commander Chhim Rithy told Reuters news agency from the scene of the crash.