Agencies: Russian Military Helicopter Crashes in Syria, Two Dead

FILE - Russian soldier stands guards as military helicopter takes off at an airport in Deir el-Zour, Syria, Sept. 15, 2017.

A Russian military MI-24 helicopter crashed in Syria on Dec. 31 due to a technical fault, killing both pilots, Russian news agencies cited the Ministry of Defence as saying on Wednesday.

The helicopter crashed en route to the Hama air base, RIA news said, citing the ministry.