News
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Punjab Rangers DG among four killed in helicopter crash
* All four onboard killed as Rangers helicopter catches fire in mid-air and plummets into River Indus near Kot Sultan
* Technical fault blamed for crash
MULTAN: A Pakistani military helicopter caught fire in mid-air and plummeted into a river on Wednesday, killing all four people on board including a provincial paramilitary chief, officials said.
According to initial details, a jet engine helicopter belonging to the Punjab Rangers crashed into the Indus River reportedly due to bad weather conditions.
The helicopter took off from Dera Ghazi Khan for Multan but crashed into the river near Kot Sultan, around 175 kilometres off Multan.
“There were four people on board, including the director general of the Punjab Rangers, Major General Mohammad Nawaz,” military spokesman Major Farooq Feroz told AFP.
“There are no reports of any survivors,” he said. One body had been recovered and rescue teams had located the wreckage, he added.
Feroz confirmed reports that the helicopter had been piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Aamir Abbas.
“The cause of the crash is being investigated. It appears to have been a technical fault, but the weather was also bad,” he said. Three helicopters - two from Multan and one from Mangla, were dispatched for search and rescue efforts. The rescuers found the wreckage of the helicopter besides recovering body of a person from the river. The identity of the recovered body is yet to be determined.
“Parts of the helicopter, including its control panel, the foot board, helicopter’s rear half portion along with rear wings and others, were recovered and brought to the river bank,” said Dr Tasleem, Rescue 1122 Incharge of district Layyah while talking to APP on phone from the site of the crash.
Local police officer Mohammad Sajid said, “Army divers have joined the rescue operation. Another Rescue 1122 official Imran told APP that 20 rescuers who had recently completed their training to combat emergency during floods were engaged in the rescue operation. “Local divers were also helping the administration,” he said. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk