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The Pentagon has announced details of another downed helicopter, this time in Sicily. Four crew members were killed in the crash.

The giant Sea Dragon helicopter crashed shortly after taking off from the U.S. Navy base at Sigonella, near Catania.

The scene of the crash was about 10 miles (15 kilometres) south-west of the base.

Sea Dragon helicopters are a transport craft with a capacity of 55 troops, or 16 tons of cargo. They are also used for sweeping for sea mines.

Lt. Dan Hetlage at the Pentagon said the MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter crashed "Wednesday evening about 10 miles southwest of the Navy base at Sigonella on the island of Sicily. Names of those killed are being withheld while next of kin are notified", he said.

On crashing the helicopter burst into flames, and was still engulfed in fire when Italian fire brigades arrived at the scene.

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