Two people have been killed after a helicopter associated with filming for an MTV reality show crashed in western Argentina on Saturday, local authorities said.

The Bell 206 helicopter crashed as it flew over the reservoir at Potrerillos Dam in Mendoza about 1,000km north-west of Buenos Aires, the security minister for Mendoza province, Gianni Vernier, told state news agency Télam.

Vernier said the pilot and a technician died but it was not immediately known if other people were in the helicopter. Searchers were trying to reach the wreckage, which was about 60 metres (200ft) below the surface, he said.

The cause of the accident was under investigation.

MTV later issued a statement saying the helicopter was working on The Challenge, a co-production of MTV and Bunim/Murray Productions, and was flying to a shooting location when it went down. MTV said two people were in the helicopter and neither was a cast or show crew member.

It is the second deadly helicopter accident this year in Argentina involving a reality show.



In March two helicopters working on the TV survivalist show Dropped collided while filming over rugged terrain in north-western Argentina, killing all 10 people onboard.

Among the dead were three French athletes: pioneering sailor Florence Arthaud, Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat and boxer Alexis Vastine.