Nicaragua Rebels Lose Only Copter on First Combat Flight
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SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Nicaraguan rebels of the Democratic Revolutionary Alliance have lost their only helicopter on its first operational flight, a spokesman for the rebels said Thursday.
Costa Rican radio reports said the helicopter was shot down by Nicaraguan anti-aircraft fire near the frontier.
However, the spokesman for the contras, as the rebels are known, said the aircraft crashed on Tuesday after developing rotor trouble while evacuating rebels involved in a battle with government troops. The pilot was killed and the only passenger was injured, he said.
The aircraft was delivered 15 days earlier from Miami, the rebel spokesman said.
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