Venezuela helicopter crash kills seven military officers near Caracas

Nicolas Maduro sends ‘heartfelt condolences’ after accident

Related video: Maduro puts on show of force with military (AP)

Seven military officers have died in Venezuela after their helicopter crashed on Saturday.

The group had been travelling to San Carlos in Cojedes state, where Nicolas Maduro, the country’s president, was overseeing training exercises at a military facility.

The Cougar helicopter the men were travelling in plunged into a mountain outside Caracas, Venezuela’s capital in the early hours of the day.

An investigation has been opened into the cause of the crash.

Two lieutenant colonels and five lower-ranking officers were killed in the crash, a spokesperson for Venezuela’s armed forces said in a statement.

It is unclear if they were part of the presidential delegation travelling to San Carlos.

“I deeply regret this incident and express my heartfelt condolences...to family and friends,” Mr Maduro said on Twitter, in response to the crash.

He described the soldiers as “seven worthy officers”.

The fatalities follow further political upheaval in Venezuela.

A small group of security forces turned against the embattled president earlier this week, as opposition leader Juan Guaido led a failed attempt to overthrow Mr Maduro.

The president’s visit to the military academy on Saturday highlighted the opposition’s failure to persuade security forces to support Mr Guaido.

Mr Guaido’s backers blame the Maduro administration for authoritarianism, mismanagement and state corruption in Venezuela.

The president in turn has tried to portray Venezuela as a victim of US plotting against socialism.

Additional reporting by agencies