Helicopter pilot killed, another injured during US-Polish military exercise

A US Apache attack helicopter crashed late on Tuesday evening near Drawsko Pomorskie in northern Poland, the US army announced yesterday. One of the pilots died instantly, while the other, who was seriously injured, was taken to hospital in Walcz. The helicopter was taking part in a joint US-Polish military exercise, code-named Victory Strike II. "The accident is under investigation by a team of specialists from the V Corps, and the site is secured by US personnel and Polish police," said Alison Bettencourt of the US Army V Corps. She added that the life of the second pilot is no longer in danger. The cause of the accident remains unknown. Bettencourt said more than 40 AH-64 Apache helicopters are taking part in the exercise, which is expected to continue. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 6; Reuters) M.K.