Article Posted on : - Jul 21, 2012

An unrelated photo of Brunei Air Force Bell 212 helicopter.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI (AP): A Brunei air force helicopter has crashed, killing at least 10 people, mostly military cadets being flown home after training.

Brunei's defence ministry says the Bell 212 helicopter crashed in the rural district of Ulu Belait late Friday while heading to Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, a sultanate on Borneo island.

A ministry statement says that in addition to the 10 people who were killed, two were injured and two were missing.

The ministry did not immediately provide any cause for the crash.

Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah visited two young armed forces cadets who survived the crash and expressed "great sadness."

Brunei's Borneo Bulletin newspaper called it "a national tragedy" that struck a day before the country's Muslim majority marked the start of the fasting month of Ramadan.