"An Iranian helicopter, which belonged to the Iranian navy, crashed on its way to Bandar Abbas, once it delivered its relief items to Bam," ISNA quoted local official Asadollah Iranmansh as saying.

Two pilots and a third person on board were killed, the agency added, without specifying the cause of the accident.

The helicopter came down three miles (four kilometres) from Bam on its way back to the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, ISNA said.

So far more than 500 helicopters and planes have delivered aid and ferried the wounded out of Bam since Friday's quake, according to Iranian officials.

WAR.WIRE