Six people were killed, including two on the ground, and two were injured when a helicopter and a Cessna light aircraft collided over a residential area in central Japan today, police and local media said.
The Aerospatiale AS332 helicopter and the Cessna aircraft, which belonged to Nakahihon Air Service Co, had taken off from Nagoya airport and were on training flights when they collided over Kuwana Mie Prefecture at around 11.30 a.m. (0230 GMT), NHK television said.
Police said two of the dead were on board the helicopter and two were in the Cessna.
Local media said two people were killed on the ground, including the driver of a car hit by debris, and at least two people were injured.
Much of the wreckage fell on the residential area, setting fire to three houses and an apartment building and causing serious damage, police said. Residents reported hearing three large explosions.
Police said they were trying to ascertain whether anyone else had been hurt in the accident.