MOSCOW, August 5 (Itar-Tass) - The condition of Russians injured during the July 31 rough landing of a helicopter in Ethiopia is improving and they may go home soon, Russian acting counsel in Ethiopia Alexei Litvinov told Itar-Tass on Monday.
Their return would be considered in two weeks, he said. “One of them was not gravely injured and is practically in good health while two more patients have fractures and continue medical treatment," he added. "One more person who received a backbone injury is recovering after surgery. His condition is still assessed as grave,” Litvinov said.
He said that an investigation into the landing continued with the participation of Ethiopian specialists, experts from the Interstate Aviation Committee as well as the company owning the helicopter. The diplomat said this could take about a week.
The Mi-8MTB-1 helicopter of Russia's PAHKh airline, operating under contract with the UN World Food Program, made its landing in a mountainous area 40 kilometers from the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The helicopter was on its way from Ethiopia to South Sudan to participate in humanitarian operations. The crew of three on board and an aircraft technician, all of them nationals of the Russian Federation, were injured.