DHAKA: Four people were killed on Wednesday when a Vietnamese military helicopter crashed minutes after it set off from southern Ho Chi Minh City.

An army official told the media, reports The Straits Times.

The UH-1 helicopter, known as a Huey, lost contact just eight minutes after departing from Tan Son Nhat international airport early on Wednesday, army deputy commander Lieutenant-General Vo Van Tuan told the media.

‘All the four crew members onboard were killed. We are checking the reason for the crash,’ Lt-Gen Tuan said.

An online report by the state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper said the crash happened in Binh Chanh district outside the city formerly known as Saigon.

BDST: 1204 HRS, JAN 28, 2015