Australian helicopter feared crashed near Fiji-media

SYDNEY, Nov 29 (Reuters) - An Australian army Black Hawk helicopter flying off a warship stationed near Fiji had been involved in an ''incident'', defence officials said. Media reports said the aircraft had been lost at sea.

''There has been an incident involving an army Black Hawk helicopter on HMAS Kanimbla this afternoon,'' an Australian Defence Force (ADF) spokeswoman said.

Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC) television reported the helicopter had been lost at sea. It said some crew had been rescued but others were believed to be missing.

ABC later said the helicopter's crew was from Australia's elite Special Air Service unit but there was no official confirmation.

Australian army Black Hawks carry a crew of four and can transport up to 10 troops.

The Kanimbla was one of three Australian navy ships sent towards Fiji earlier this month in case thousands of Australian nationals holidaying there needed to be evacuated as fears grew of an imminent coup in the South Pacific island nation.

The Fijian military said earlier today it would secure strategic parts of the capital Suva from midnight in exercises to be conducted because of the fear of foreign intervention.

The Defence spokeswoman said ADF head Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston would give a media briefing soon.

Australia's defence force has had an unhappy recent history with its ageing helicopter fleet.

Eighteen Australian soldiers were killed in 1996 when two Black Hawks, manufactured by the U S planemaker Sikorsky, collided during a special operations night-training exercise in northern Australia.

Another nine military personnel died in April 2005 when a Sea King helicopter based on the Kanimbla, an amphibious transport ship, crashed on the Indonesian island of Nias.

Its crew had been delivering relief aid to villagers after an 8.7 magnitude earthquake.

Australia has 12 Westland Aircraft Ltd-made Sea King helicopters but has announced a plan to replace its army Black Hawks and navy Sea Kings as part of a A billion ( billion) defence upgrade.

REUTERS PDM BS1503