(VOVworld) – One Indian air force helicopter crashed Friday afternoon in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, killing seven people.

Seven air force personnel were killed when an Indian Air Force Helicopter crashed in Ataria, around 35 km away from Lucknow. (Photo: hindustantimes.com)

Local media reported that the helicopter, which was flying from Bareilly to Allahabad, allegedly sent a distress call shortly before 5 p.m. when it was about 40 km north of Lucknow in Uttar Pradeah state. After that, it lost contact with Air Traffic Controllers in Lucknow. According to Indian authorities, the helicopter was engulfed in fire as it crashed in Manipurwa in Ataria area. Now, Indian navy and air force are using 150 helicopters of its kind.