US helicopters collide in mid-air

At least six people died in a mid-air collision between two medical helicopters in the US state of Arizona, a US aviation official has said.

The incident happened close to a hospital in the city of Flagstaff.

All three people on one of the helicopters died, at least one of them a patient, the Federal Aviation Authority's Ian Gregor said.

Three of the four people on the other aircraft also died, and the fourth was critically injured.

The incident occurred at 1545 local time (2245 GMT).

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Rescue workers arrive at the scene of the crash

The aircraft, both of them Bell 407 commercial helicopters, were both on their way to the hospital at the time.

The collision also caused a fire in a heavily wooded area, according to reports from local fire officials.

The incident is not the first of its kind in Arizona.

Last year four people died when two helicopters owned by rival TV companies collided while covering a car chase in the city of Phoenix.

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