Soldiers killed in crash

Mendon: Three United States National Guard members were killed yesterday in upstate New York when their helicopter crashed in a farmer’s field during a routine training mission.

The aircraft, a UH60 Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter, came down about 6.30pm (local time) in Mendon, New York state, a rural town south of Rochester, officials said.

The circumstances were under investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration said it would take part.

Photos taken by local media showed the aircraft wreckage burning on a snowcovered field.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said flags on state buildings would be lowered to halfmast today to pay tribute to the troops. — AP