Police helicopter crashes in Soweto shoot-out

Three police have been seriously injured after their helicopter crashed in Soweto

Three police officers have been seriously injured after their helicopter crashed in Meadowlands, Soweto this morning, said Gauteng police.

It apparently hit power cables while helping the Florida and Roodepoort Dog Units chase armed robbery suspects, Superintendent Eugene Opperman said.

Police began pursuing the robbers on foot around 8:30am this morning before calling in the helicopter to help.

Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesman Percy Morokne said all three occupants were airlifted to Johannesburg's Milpark Hospital in a very critical condition. Opperman said the robbers managed to get away. When asked whether the helicopter had been fired at by the robbers. "As far as we know that is not the case". - Sapa