Taipei - A Taiwan air force AH1W Super Cobra attack helicopter crash-landed at a village in the northern county of Taoyuan Wednesday, critically injuring the two pilots, defence officials said. 

The helicopter first hit a three-story building before it crash-landed in a narrow lane of the village and crushed a car nearby, Taiwanese television news media quoted eye-witnesses as saying. 

Air force officials said the pilots were on a routine training flight when the accident occurred. 

"We immediately sent rescuers to save the pilots, and rushed them to hospital for emergence treatment," said Chen Chien-tsai, an air force spokesman. 

Doctors at a military hospital nearby said the conditions of the pilot, Yu Chien-wen, 41, and co-pilot Lee Huang-yu, 27, were critical. 

The air force said it was investigating the cause of the accident and did not rule out mechanical trouble. 

It was the air force's first attack helicopter crash since another accident killed eight crew members on April 3 last year. (dpa)