Two Die In Iranian Salvage Mishap

February 17, 2007 -- A helicopter crashed in a lake in southern Iran today while trying to recover the wreckage of another recent helicopter mishap, killing the pilot and a passenger, state radio reported.

Three people were killed in the February 15 crash that prompted today's salvage operation.

It was unclear what caused the second crash, although an emergency-services source told Reuters that the aircraft crashed while trying to life the wreckage of the first helicopter.

Both helicopters -- which belonged to Iran's Oil Ministry -- crashed into Maharlou Lake, south of Shiraz.

Officials had blamed the earlier incident on a malfunction.

(Reuters, AFP)