Paris, Nov 27 (AFP/APP): The black boxes from two French military helicopters that collided in Mali killing 13 soldiers have been found, a French military spokesman said Wednesday.
The crash occurred late Monday during an operation against militants in the Liptako region, near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger. It was the heaviest single loss for the French military in nearly four decades.
“The two black boxes from the helicopters have been recovered, they will be handed over to the relevant authorities to be analysed,” the spokesman, Colonel Frederic Barbry, told BFMTV.
Two US service members killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash
Three helicopters and a squadron of Mirage jets had arrived on Monday to support ground troops pursuing extremists.
Shortly after troops engaged the insurgents, who fled on motorbikes and in a pickup truck, a Tiger attack helicopter collided with a Cougar military transport helicopter.
All 13 onboard the two aircraft were killed.
