AA French special forces commando has died in a helicopter crash in Burkina Faso in what France’s defence ministry said was a training flight in the politically volatile African nation, reports FRANCE 24.
The ministry identified the man as 38-year-old army master sergeant Samir Bajja.
Bajja was on board a Caracal tactical troop transport helicopter when it crashed - injuring two other service personnel as well - on Saturday night.
The ministry did not specify where in the West African country the helicopter crashed.
France has recently played a role in calming a political crisis that erupted late October in Burkina Faso - a former French colony - when mass street demonstrations toppled president Blaise Compaoré.
French military operations in Burkina Faso – called Barkhane - are also part of the French-led mission begun last year to oust al Qaeda-linked militants from an area in northern Mali.
