Navy helicopter crashes in Thailand, killing 9

A navy helicopter crashed in a rice field during a training mission Friday in northeastern Thailand, killing all nine people on board, officials said.

The helicopter nose-dived into a field in Surin province, 330 kilometers (210 miles) northeast of Bangkok, and caught fire when it hit the ground at about 12:45 p.m. (0545 GMT), said navy spokesman Capt. Korkiet Pandee.

The aircraft had taken off from Ubon Ratchathani province on its way to a naval base in Chonburi province in southern Thailand. The reasons for the crash were not immediately known, the AP reports.