Taliban captured Pakistani helicopter crew after emergency landing in Afghanistan

World August 05, 2016, 9:13

The crew consisting of six retired Pakistani military and a Russian air navigator were captured by the Taliban

MOSCOW, August 5 /TASS/. A Mi-17 Pakistani helicopter made an emergency landing in Afghanistan when it was heading for maintenance and repairs to an enterprise belonging to the Russian Helicopters company, the Russian holdings’ press service told TASS on Friday.

"Pakistan’s Mi-17 commercial helicopter piloted by Pakistani pilots was on its way to an enterprise belonging to the Russian Helicopters holdings for repairs," the press service said.

The helicopter made an emergency landing in Afghanistan because of a technical breakdown. After that, the helicopter went on fire. The crew consisting of six retired Pakistani military and a Russian air navigator were not hurt. They, however, were captured by the Taliban.

Russian Helicopters said Pakistan and Russia had struck a deal for the helicopter’s repairs in July 2016.

"Russian Helicopters’ experts have been in constant contact with the Foreign Ministry and the Pakistani authorities with an aim to clarify the accident’s causes," the press service added.

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