Mexican state security chief, 4 others, die in helicopter crash

Members of security forces check the site where the head of security of the central Mexican state of Aguascalientes has died in a helicopter crash, in Aguascalientes, Mexico November 17, 2022. REUTERS/Liberto Urena

The head of security of the central Mexican state of Aguascalientes has died in a helicopter crash that killed a total of five people, the state's governor announced on Thursday.

The crash was captured on video shared on social media, showing the aircraft dropping vertically into the ground of an empty grass area.

All five people who died in the crash, including the minister of public security Porfirio Javier Sanchez Mendoza, were on board the aircraft.

Firefighters and members of security forces check covered bodies where the head of security of the central Mexican state of Aguascalientes has died in a helicopter crash, in Aguascalientes, Mexico November 17, 2022. REUTERS/Liberto Urena

The crash happened on Thursday morning in the north of the state.

The cause was being treated as an accident, Tere Jimenez, the state's governor, said in a statement.

(This story has been refiled to add the missing story name and to show that photos and videos are available)

(Reporting by Isabel Woodford; Editing by Bill Berkrot)