Belgian army pilot falls from helicopter during airshow

Image copyrightAFP

Image captionAn Agusta helicopter (file pic): The aircraft is used by air forces and police worldwide

Troops are searching an area of eastern Belgium where a pilot fell out of his military helicopter during an air show.

Three troops had jumped with parachutes from the Agusta A-109 helicopter, but the pilot and co-pilot did not have parachutes, Belgian media report.

They say the co-pilot helped the three jump, but then saw the pilot's seat empty and his door wide open. He grabbed the controls and landed safely.

The air show was at Amay near Liège. The pilot fell several hundred metres.

The reason for the pilot's fall remains a mystery.

Image copyrightAFP

Image captionBelgian troops are scouring the countryside around Amay, 28km (17 miles) from Liège