Russian helicopter crash in S. Sudan to be probed comprehensively, guilty to be punished - Moscow
MOSCOW. Aug 27 (Interfax) - Moscow demands the comprehensive investigation of the crash of a Russian helicopter in South Sudan which claimed the lives of the crew - three Russian citizens - and that those guilty be punished, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday.
"We demand that UNMISS [UN Mission in South Sudan] and South Sudanese authorities hold an immediate and comprehensive investigation, that everyone guilty of the incident be held liable and UNMISS take additional measures to ensure the safety of air transportation in South Sudan," the document said.
Russian diplomats are in constant contact with the UN Secretariat and UNMISS leadership, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"The Russian Foreign Ministry offers its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased," the statement said.
On August 26 the Mi-8 helicopter, owned by Russian air company UTair with crew of four Russian citizens on board, crashed near the town of Bentiu in South Sudan. Russian pilots were working under a contract with the UNMISS and were transporting 2.5 tonnes food from the city of Wau to the town of Rubkona.
The last time the crew were in contact during the flight was at 2.28 p.m., having announced that the landing time at the destination would be at 2.45 p.m. Several minutes after the expected time of the aircraft arrival, another UN helicopter reported smoke to air traffic control, in the area where the helicopter had been. UNMISS peacekeepers were sent to the crash site.
According to information from the UN Secretariat and UNMISS, three crew members died. The second pilot, who survived, is relatively stable in a local hospital run by the NGO Medecins Sans Frontieres.
The crash investigation falls under the jurisdiction of the aviation authorities of South Sudan and Russia. The UN said it was ready to provide any assistance to the investigation upon the request of competent authorities. The UN Secretariat intends to hold an internal investigation of the crash.