The commanders of the Cyprus National Guard and air force were killed in a helicopter crash in the southwest of the island early today.
The guard commander, General Evangelos Florakis, and the air force commander, Wing Commander Vassilis Dervenagas, were travelling together on the night time exercise, Defence Minister Socrates Hassikos said.
The helicopter's two-man crew and Gen Florakis's aide de camp were also killed. There were no survivors and no other aircraft were involved.
The defence minister said it was too early to speculate about the cause and that a full inquiry would be conducted.
The helicopter crashed into a dry riverbed near a village, whose inhabitants alerted police.
"This is the first accident since the helicopter wing of the National Guard was formed 18 years ago," Mr Hassikos said in Nicosia, appearing close to tears.
He and President Glafcos Clerides were to tour the site of the crash.
Cyprus's small air force - with a half dozen helicopters and a few spotter planes - is part of its 11,000 member National Guard.
AP