Opposition leader survives Madrid helicopter crash

[arcos]

Opposition leader survives Madrid helicopter crash

MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- A helicopter crash in a Madrid suburb left Spanish opposition leader Mariano Rajoy slightly injured, a reporter for CNN partner station CNN+ said.

The aircraft, which was also carrying two other politicians and a cameraman, had just taken off from a bullring in the town of Mostoles when it fell back to the ground.

"There was an accident. Fortunately there were no serious injuries," an official of Rajoy's conservative Popular Party said.

Police and aides pulled Rajoy and the others out of the damaged helicopter, and all five aboard, including the pilot, were able to walk away.

The craft had just taken off when it appeared to strike a building and fell an estimated 3 to 4 meters, or 9 to 12 feet, to the ground, said CNN+ reporter Javier Bosque.

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http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/12/01/madrid.crash/


Video of the crash here:
http://www.elmundo.es/documentos/2005/12/espana/rajoyhelicoptero/index.html