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LONDON - Two British sailors were killed and another injured today in an accident on a nuclear-powered submarine on exercise in the Arctic, the UK Ministry of Defence said.
The ministry said the nuclear reactor on board HMS Tireless was not affected. The submarine "quickly surfaced and is completely safe," it said in a statement.
Initial investigations indicated that the accident aboard the hunter-killer submarine involved a piece of air purification equipment in its forward section. It caused only superficial damage.
Tireless, which does not carry nuclear missiles, was taking part in an Anglo-American exercise when the accident happened. It was submerged under the ice cap at the time.
The injured submariner was airlifted to a US military hospital. His injuries are not life-threatening.
- REUTERS
