Copter crashes on USS Ronald Reagan in Asia, sailors hurt

TOKYO -- An U.S. Navy helicopter has crashed on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, causing non-fatal injuries to sailors.

The Navy's 7th Fleet said in a statement the MH-60 Seahawk crashed shortly after takeoff Friday while the carrier was off the Philippine coast.

The Navy said all affected sailors were in stable condition and their injuries were non-life threatening. It didn't say how many sailors were hurt.

The Navy did not give details on any damage to the helicopter or the aircraft carrier, but said the ship was fully capable to conduct its mission for security and stability in the IndoPacific region.

The Navy said the crash occurred while Ronald Reagan Strike Group was conducting routine operations in the Philippine Sea. The cause was under investigation. MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says Islamic State militants in Syria have recently seized some 700 people as hostages and are carrying out executions.

At an international policy forum in Sochi on Thursday, Putin said "they have been recently expanding their area and took about 130 families hostage, which accounts for about 700 people."

Putin said the militants have put forth demands, which he did not specify, and have warned that they would kill 10 people a day if the demands are not met.

"They killed 10 people the day before yesterday," he said. "They are now carrying out their threats."

State news agency Tass Wednesday cited an unnamed "diplomaticmilitary source" as saying the hostages were seized in a raid on a refugee camp and were demanding Syria free IS members.