Gang forces helicopter down in Belgian prison to help 2 inmates escape

A criminal gang forced a helicopter to land in the yard of a Belgian prison to create a diversion that allowed two prisoners to escape, Belgian media reports said Sunday. VRT television said gangster Nordin Benallal and another inmate fled Belgium's top security jail at Ittre by taking a guard hostage and stealing a car after an accomplice forced a helicopter pilot to land in the prison yard during evening exercise time. In the confusion, the inmates left the prison in a VW Golf car - which reportedly had a flashing blue light like those used in police cars. The car was found two hours later in a field near the town of Braine-Le-Chateau.