Eighteen people have died in Ethiopia when a military helicopter crashed in the country’s Oromiya region, state affiliated news agency Fana reported.

Fifteen members of the country’s defence force and three civilians were killed, according to Fana.Ethiopian portal, Addis Standard reported that the Ethiopian Air Force is investigating the crash.

Addisu Arega, a Oromiya regional cabinet minister, confirmed the Fana report and tweeted: 

"All passengers on board died. The cause is under investigation. Our condolences to the families.

The helicopter was flying from the eastern Ethiopian town of Dire Dawa and headed to Bishoftu around 60 kilometres south of the capital Addis Ababa, Addisu said. 

In 2013, an Ethiopian military cargo plane crashed on landing at Mogadishu airport in Somalia, killing four of the six crew members.