The World : Laos Copter Crash Kills 25

A Soviet-made MI-6 helicopter crashed in a Laotian village, killing 25 passengers, including a Laotian deputy defense minister, and setting the village on fire, Thai intelligence officers said in Bangkok. The Bangkok Post newspaper, quoting from a Radio Laos broadcast, said Laotian Deputy Defense Minister Khampa Charoenphonmesay was among those killed in the crash. Maj. Gen. Khampa was a Central Committee member of the Laotian Communist party, the Post quoted the radio as saying. The crash occurred in Paklai village while the copter was on its way back to the Laotian capital, Vientiane, Thai officers said. After the crash, fire raged for more than 10 hours in the village, they said.