UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Three Senegalese UN peacekeeping crew members were killed and another injured in the crash of an Mi-24 helicopter in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Friday, a UN spokesman said.

They were attempting an emergency landing due to bad weather near Bouar in the west of the CAR, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The helicopter was providing air support to a security operation by the UN mission against an armed group in the Nana-Mambere prefecture, Dujarric said.

"The secretary-general, and the United Nations, extend their heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers, as well as to the government and people of Senegal," the spokesman said.