Srinagar/New Delhi: Two pilots were killed when an army helicopter crashed in a forest area in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district on Wednesday evening, officials said.

The advanced light helicopter (ALH) crashed and immediately caught fire in the Laman (Safapora) forests, a police officer told IANS.

Army officials said the helicopter was on a "routine training night sortie".

The incident took place at 7.43 p.m. Rescue teams of the army, police and fire tenders rushed to the spot. Two bodies were recovered and efforts were on to find out if there were other occupants in the helicopter.

Villagers in the area said they saw the helicopter swing dangerously after which they heard a big sound followed by flames.