U.N. helicopter crashes in Sierra Leone, 24 deceased

U.N. helicopter crashed in an explosion on a remote hill in Sierra Leone on Tuesday, killing everybody aboard, U.N. officials in the West African country said.

According to reuters.com, victims aboard the Russian-made Mi-8 included the Russian crew, U.N. mission spokeswoman Sharon McPherson said. A passenger manifest made available to The Associated Press said the passengers included 14 Pakistani peacekeepers and a Pakistani police officer, and travelers from several African countries.

The Russian helicopter, leased by the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the West African country, was on a flight from the capital Freetown when it crashed about five minutes from its destination, the eastern town of Yengema, the U.N. said, quotes abcnews.go.com.

"Military personnel confirm that there were no survivors," spokeswoman Marie Okabe said.