PORT-AU-PRINCE - A HELICOPTER crashed on Tuesday in northern Haiti, killing two Americans, police said.

The two US nationals, aged 51 to 66, were aboard the Ranger chopper, according to documents found at the scene of the crash, investigator Joseph Felix, told AFP by telephone.

The two men were apparently the only people aboard the helicopter when it fell into a lagoon, police said.

Felix said the aircraft had not taken off from Haitian soil as authorities had not issued any permission for the helicopter flight.

The United Nations mission in Haiti had quickly informed authorities that the crash did not appear to involve a UN helicopter, said Mr Fritz Jean, chief inspector. -- AFP