2 killed in MTV helicopter crash in Argentina

A man stands near one of two helicopters that crashed near Villa Castelli in the La Rioja province of Argentina, on March 9, 2015. Two helicopters with passengers who were filming a documentary crashed Monday in the remote area of northwest Argentina, killing all 10 people on board both aircrafts, authorities said. A second helicopter crash happened in Argentina on Dec. 12, 2015, and killed two people working for MTV. AP

SANTIAGO, Chile — A helicopter working for an MTV reality show crashed in western Argentina on Saturday and both people on board were killed, local authorities said.

The Bell 206 helicopter crashed as it flew over the reservoir at Potrerillos de Mendoza dam about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) northwest of Buenos Aires, Gianni Vernier, security minister for Mendoza province, told the state news agency Telam.

Vernier said the pilot and a technician died. Searchers were unable to retrieve the bodies Saturday because the wreckage was 60 meters (nearly 200 feet) below the surface, Telam said.

The cause of the accident was under investigation.

MTV issued a statement saying the helicopter was working on “The Challenge,” a co-production of MTV and Bunim-Murray Productions, and was flying to a shooting location when it went down. MTV said only two people were on the helicopter and neither was a cast or show crew member.

It was the second deadly helicopter accident this year in Argentina involving a reality show.

Last March, two helicopters working on the TV survivalist show “Dropped” collided while filming over rugged terrain in northwestern Argentina and all 10 people on board died in the crash. Among the dead were three noted French athletes — pioneering sailor Florence Arthaud and Olympian swimmer Camille Muffat and boxer Alexis Vastine.