CANBERRA, Feb. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Three people were killed when a helicopter carrying them crashed in Australia's southeastern state of New South Wales Thursday.

    The chopper went down east of Parkes, about 300 kilometers west of Sydney, and exploded into flames.

    Parkes Shire Council said in a statement that "three bodies have been located in the wreckage, two of whom are believed to be council employees."

    The two council employees were carrying out airborne inspections of inaccessible areas of noxious weeds, according to the statement.

    The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said details are still too sketchy to comment about the crash. Enditem