Five people were killed after a police helicopter crash early Thursday in the central Mexican state of Aguascalientes, including the state’s security chief Porfirio Sanchez Mendoza.
The pilot identified as Olegario Andrade Zamorano, maneuvered to permit the aircraft to land in an empty lot, avoiding more casualties.
The other three onboard were Capt. Victor Manuel Valdez Sanchez and artillerymen Alejandro Serafin Guerrero and Juan Humberto Rincon Martinez.
Jimenez Esquivel confirmed that the crash was an accident.
The incident is under further investigation.