AT LEST TWO people were killed when a helicopter being used by film crew with the US television channel MTV crashed into a reservoir in western Argentina, officials said today.

The security minister for Mendoza province, Gianni Venier, said the helicopter crashed about 30 kilometres from the city of Mendoza, the provincial capital — some 620 kilometres west of Buenos Aires.

Wreckage from the aircraft has been found, and a pilot and a technician aboard the helicopter were reported killed when the craft plunged into the reservoir at Potrerillos de Mendoza dam.

The helicopter was being used for a reality show for the channel. 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.

Rescuers trying to reach the downed helicopter said it had plunged some 60 metres underwater.

The crash is the second this year involving a helicopter taking part in filming in Argentina.

In March, 10 people, eight French nationals and two Argentines, were killed during the filming of a show for reality TV in France.

The dead included three well-known French athletes — pioneering sailor Florence Arthaud and Olympian swimmer Camille Muffat and boxer Alexis Vastine.

- © AFP 2015 with reporting from Associated Press.

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