Two people, a soldier and a civilian, remain in a critical condition after a British military helicopter crashed in South Armagh this morning.
Five British soldiers and two civilians were hurt in the crash.
The Puma helicopter was carrying troops to an British army watchtower when it suddenly went down near the village of Jonesborough close to the border.
A police spokesman said the RAF helicopter was carrying three crew members, two civilian contractors and four soldiers.
He said six were brought to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, while the seventh was taken to Craigavon Area Hospital in Co Down. Four of the injured were in a serious condition with spinal, back and head injuries and the two most critical were transferred to specialist units in Belfast. There are no reports of any deaths.
Two others less seriously injured were treated at the scene by British army personnel.
While the cause of the crash is being investigated, the spokesman said there was no question of any terrorist involvement in the incident.
A British army spokesman said earlier the crash was probably caused by a mechanical failure.
The incident happened at about 10.30 a.m. Two men were trapped in the mangled wreckage for almost two hours before being freed and taken by British army helicopters to hospital.
According to locals, the helicopter crashed as it was approaching the watchtower at Foughill Mountain. They said that as it lost control and went into a spin, the tail and main propeller broke off.
A spokesman for the Celtic League, which monitors military activity, said the crash came as no surprise. He said many RAF helicopters were past their sell-by date.
"In April 1998 we expressed concern about the suitability of some of the types operated, due to their age, to HQ British Forces North Ireland," he said.
"They however rejected our concerns about the semi-obsolescent nature of types such as the Lynx and Puma."
A Ministry of Defence spokesman dismissed suggestions that many military helicopters were too old.
"This was a Puma helicopter, which is an extremely capable and modern aircraft," he said. "All RAF aircraft are maintained to the highest standards and it is nonsense to suggest that this aircraft is past its sell-by date."