BOGOTA, Dec 23: Seven military officials, including two senior officers, were killed when their US-built UH-1H ``Huey'' helicopter crashed in a jungle-covered area of northwest California, military spokesman said.

The crash occurred shortly after the aircraft took off from the Pacific Port of Bahia Solano Choco province yesterday, the spokesman said.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known but the copter plummeted to the ground about three or four minutes after take-off. However, he virtually ruled out any sabotage by Leftist rebels saying ``the least probable cause that exists at this point is that it was downed by the enemy.''

The accident was the worst to hit the armed forces this year and followed a Leftist rebel attack early on Sunday, in which more than 20 soldiers were killed.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.