French Military Helicopter Crash Kills Five, Near Saint-Tropez

Five people are dead after two French military helicopters crashed in the southeast of the country on Friday, local authorities have said. 

French police said the Gazelle helicopters, which both belonged to the Ealat military flight training school in nearby Le-Cannet-des-Maures, collided in a wooded area between the small towns of Cabasse and Carces, around 30 miles northwest of the resort town of Saint-Tropez,  Sky News reported.

The tragedy occurred on the shores of Lake Carcès, near Veolia station, according to local media reports.

Initial reports suggested a rescue mission was underway to find a sixth passenger, but authorities have so far only confirmed five passengers were onboard the helicopters.