Punjab govt’s helicopter crash-lands in Afghanistan; Taliban set it on fire, take crew hostage
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ISLAMABAD: A Punjab government Mi-17 helicopter crash landed on Thursday in Afghanistan’s Logar province where Taliban insurgents took the crew hostage before setting the helicopter on fire.
DawnNews reported the helicopter had seven people onboard at the time of the incident, and was on its way for maintenance to Uzbekistan.
Afghanistan’s TOLO News, however, reported the helicopter belonged to Pakistan military.
Quoting spokesman for Logar province’s governor, it said that the helicopter crashed in the Mati area of Azra district.
What we know so far
- Punjab government’s Mi-17 helicopter crash lands in Afghanistan’s Logar province
- Taliban sets it on fire; some reports say it caught fire as it crashed
- 7 crew members on board survive crash; Taliban take them hostage
- Foreign Office trying to contact Afghan officials to get more information
Gen Raheel seeks help from US commander
Army Chief General Raheel Sharif called Commander Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan General Nicolson and asked him to help in the recovery of the helicopter crew, said Inter-Services Public Relations.
"Gen Nicolson has assured all possible help in this regard," said the military's spokesperson, Lt Gen Asim Bajwa.
Giving details about the incident, Lt Gen Bajwa confirmed that seven people were on board the helicopter including retired military officers and a Russian navigator.
Afghan government and Afghan National Army authorities have also been contacted for necessary assistance in recovery of the crew members, Bajwa added.
"The helicopter was being sent to Uzbekistan for overhauling when it crashed in Azra district, in the restive Afghan province of Logar," said a Punjab government official.
There were conflicting reports on how the helicopter caught fire. Some eyewitnesses told local news agencies that the helicopter appeared to have caught fire during landing while some residents said the Taliban set it on fire.
According to DawnNews, all seven crew members survived the crash. Six members of the Punjab government and a Russian engineer were on board the helicopter, it added.
Pakistan Foreign Office is trying to contact Afghan officials to get more information on the incident.
The Taliban militant group, however, has so far not commented on the incident.
Know more: Mi-17 was fully airworthy, says army
Crashes of Mi-17 helicopter
Air accidents involving Mi-17 in Pakistan include:
- 2004 crash near Karak in which 13 soldiers were killed
- 2007 crash near Muzaffarabad on the occasion of inauguration of development projects
- Crash in Kurram Agency, 2009, in which 41 people were killed
- Crash in Skardu in 2012 in which five people died
- Seven people including Norway, Philippines envoys died in Mi-17 crash, May 2015, in Naltar Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan
- Military helicopter crashed near Mansehra in August 2015, killing all 12 on board
- An Mi-17 crashed near Tarbela, February 2016, killing one military official
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (98) Closed
Aug 04, 2016 08:22pm
Setback for the Punjab govt . How much is the loss to be borne by the exchequer. This chopper could have been repaired at home by the Pak Army aviation
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Aug 04, 2016 08:26pm
What the hell it was doing so far away from Punjab?
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Aug 04, 2016 08:27pm
The Afghans statement is wrong. The helicopter belonged to Punjab govt and not Pak Army. It was going to be reduced to spares anyway. Importantly, the abductors are Afghan Govt who were approached and informed about the flight plan. They are now trying to link this to Afghan Taliban. Truth would cone out soon.
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Aug 04, 2016 08:30pm
Blame this on Pakistan now? Afghanistan is a lawless country, which needs to be dealt with appropriately.
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Aug 04, 2016 08:30pm
Not a good news.
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Aug 04, 2016 08:31pm
And then folks in Pakistan say Afghan Talibans are the "Good Talibans"
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Aug 04, 2016 08:32pm
Ap-bgx,mi 17 helicopter was in use of cm punjab
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Aug 04, 2016 08:34pm
@Pakistani Guy... Like you say if the Afghans are behind this then they should be made to pay a very heavy price for this act.
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Aug 04, 2016 08:35pm
Pak Army choppers are not send to Uzbekistan for repairs and overhauling, they are repaired at home as full facilities are available in Rawalpindi.
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Aug 04, 2016 08:36pm
Moving parts on helicopters are ground up by sand. They need scheduled replacement and maintenance. Attempts to save money by not replacing parts on time only makes them crash.
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Aug 04, 2016 08:36pm
@majid ..what you are implying is wrong Mr,this is Afghans playing with fire and they will get very seriously burned.
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Aug 04, 2016 08:39pm
@sam same question raise in my mind what is so important that it has to fly from Punjab to Afghanistan.
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Aug 04, 2016 08:44pm
@Raja Farhat Abbas : don't change the subject , what it was doing in Afghanistan in the first place!!!!!??????
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Aug 04, 2016 08:45pm
@majid -- TTP Terrorists operate from Afghanistan and get training there.
In this situation, it seems Afghan Govt is probably involved. Indians also have a heavy presence in that area. We don't know the truth yet
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Aug 04, 2016 08:51pm
What is Punjab Givt helicopter doing over Afghanistan? There has to be some explanation about this.
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Aug 04, 2016 09:08pm
No /poor route plaining /negligence by Punjab govt. Instead of Afghanistan,from chitral to Tajikistan then Uzbekistan route was safe,.....
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Aug 04, 2016 09:10pm
May God protect those people.
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Aug 04, 2016 09:26pm
Why is the chopper so far away from Punjab in another country
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Aug 04, 2016 09:28pm
With all these crashes of Mi-17 and all the lives lost, maybe its time to ground these helicopters.
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Aug 04, 2016 09:31pm
@John
The answer is simple. It was going for major overhaul at Uzbekistan. No conspiracy theories please. But yes they could have approached Army to overhaul it for them within country- provided they were not occupied currently.
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Aug 04, 2016 09:31pm
Who was on board? and wat was it doing in Afghanistan? Pak Goverment should give information before too many speculative stories.
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Aug 04, 2016 09:34pm
How did Punjab government's helicopter get so deep into Afghanistan? What was it doing there?
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Aug 04, 2016 09:43pm
really? maintenance in Uzbekistan? wow
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Aug 04, 2016 09:46pm
How come a Russian Engineer is a crew member and is employed with the Punjab Govt.?
R.S. Menon, Bangalore
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Aug 04, 2016 09:49pm
Total loss.instead of repair,Punjab govt.will b happy to purchase new one,
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Aug 04, 2016 09:54pm
very sad
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Aug 04, 2016 09:56pm
Such kind of incidents oftenly happen in both Pakistan and India.both countries are incurred billion of dollars on defence but much of the machinaries are obsolet and out dated which cost lives of the soldiers and officials.if the chopper need repair so why they took it to far away distance for repair.they should try to repair it within the country.in the case of Taliban they will obeviousely unwellcoming those choppers of Pakistan as they engaged in war with Pak militiary since long time.I hope all the surviours will be back safely to Pakistan.
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Aug 04, 2016 09:58pm
Pakistan should immediately send its special forces to rescue all hostages
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Aug 04, 2016 10:06pm
Now this must be replaced by a new or completely refurbished in Russia helicopter. Shehbaz Sharif must delay his plan /expense for buying a jet worth 30 crore.
Secondly, harsh and aggressive efforts must start to bring these people back safely. How come it was flying through a dangerous air area? Why such a flight plan was necessary? As usual Punjab govt. will never come out with disclosure
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Aug 04, 2016 10:25pm
Hopefully all the people would be safe and return to Pakistan...these Talibans are real enemy and barbarians by birth...they will straight away start bargaining the release of their people with Pakistan...
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Aug 04, 2016 10:41pm
What if Taliban asks Pakistan government to release Talibans living in prisons in a deal that they will hand over Punjab employees captured by them in this plane crash ?
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Aug 04, 2016 10:45pm
Pakistani government should send special forces to rescue hostages....enough is enough
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Aug 04, 2016 11:33pm
Why helicopter that needs maintenance was fly so far.
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Aug 04, 2016 11:36pm
Why were 7 people on board for a maintenance mission? There should be only 2.
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Aug 04, 2016 11:38pm
@majid nobody says it anymore.
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Aug 04, 2016 11:40pm
Meanwhile some government claim...'Pakistan is not doing enough in fight against terrorism'.
Long live Pak Army.
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Aug 04, 2016 11:41pm
@True going to Kazakhstan for repair of the helicopter. One Russian was also among the passengers. It had to cross Afghanistan to reach its destination, if you know your geography well.
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Aug 04, 2016 11:44pm
And why so many crew members?
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Aug 05, 2016 12:06am
A lot of people are blaming others for this incident but nobody dares to ask as to what that helicopter was doing in afghanistan ? and did Afghan govt know about the navigation of that helicopter ? if no then what is the purpose of crossing the border ??
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Aug 05, 2016 12:09am
This will have big impact on Punjab ministers and their families personal travel to resting places.
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Aug 05, 2016 12:16am
If going for overhauling why too many ppls on board should have been pilot and one crew?
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Aug 05, 2016 12:18am
M i 17 should be grounded. Pakistan should acquire Blak Hawks from USA.
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Aug 05, 2016 12:21am
@majid they probably are better then Afghan government.
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Aug 05, 2016 12:24am
Tax payers from Karachi should pay for the loss of Punjab Govt helicopter, as landowners, waderas and businessmen in Punjab expect Sindh and specially Karachi to nourish them.
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Aug 05, 2016 12:29am
Why on earth are we sending aircrafts to Uzbekistan for maintenance when Pakistan Aeronautical Complex is a state of the art facility? I hope the Americans do the needful, Afghan government is full of turn-coats and absconders - we must circumvent them. Any harm of our citizens or the Russian guest will be dealt with iron fist by Pakistan.
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Aug 05, 2016 12:31am
@majid the article clearly states that the Taleban have denied knowledge and have not commented so far. Or do you know something we dont?
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Aug 05, 2016 12:36am
I wish from my heart all Afghan Govt especially Abdullah Abdullah will take care of you .
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Aug 05, 2016 12:42am
Why in the world was a helicopter that required repair being FLOWN all the way to Uzbekistan and that too over hostile territory. The absurdity of this situation is utterly mind boggling let alone the fact that now we have Pakistani's being held hostage in a foreign country. Will blunders never cease.
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Aug 05, 2016 12:45am
@Sami Shahid hopefully special forces don't become hostage themselves which is highly likely
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Aug 05, 2016 12:50am
@Raja Farhat Abbas
oh really?? :P
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Aug 05, 2016 12:50am
@Jamal The truth is that our Government doesn't have a clear policy to deal with our
neighbours.
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Aug 05, 2016 01:11am
What Punjab government Mi-17 helicopter was doing over Afghanistan ?
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Aug 05, 2016 01:31am
Half baked story.
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Aug 05, 2016 01:36am
@Sarai Alamgir
We have to respect our neighbors, so please stop this attitude now.
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Aug 05, 2016 01:38am
@Raja Farhat Abbas
Please stop this here. Don't look down upon our neighbors. We Pakistani respect our neighbors.
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Aug 05, 2016 01:44am
@MQM
It is called monkey business.
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Aug 05, 2016 01:45am
@kashif
They don't care. We just need to pay more taxes.
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Aug 05, 2016 01:45am
Better to stick with American aircraft instead of these flying coffins from Russia.
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Aug 05, 2016 02:14am
@ zubida Khan , its pilots , trainee engineers and technicians. Its retired Pak aviation crew now working for private sector.
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Aug 05, 2016 02:14am
Why were there 7 persons on it when it's only going for maintenance? The weight of extra persons will increase fuel consumption too. Their maximum altitude can be reached by a shoulder-fired missile, why would the military risk flying over Afghanistan?
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Aug 05, 2016 02:16am
@Shah Saab Whenever you buy these Russian Helicopters, under the contract Pakistan has to get these helicopters serviced in Russia. The initial cost is extremely low and very attractive, but the repairs is very expensive . After the MI-17 flies for certain number of hours, it has to go back to Russia for rehaul.
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Aug 05, 2016 02:25am
These helicopters were made in 1960s and now are total death traps. Rather than trying to make state of the art fighter planes which won't happen anytime soon, pak govt should partner China to make transport helicopters small passenger planes etc which are sorely needed.
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Aug 05, 2016 03:08am
this story makes no sense at all, the coptor was going for overhaul WITH Russian engineers onboard? could they not come up with a better story?
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Aug 05, 2016 03:15am
Take help from US get Pak commandos and escape them from their prison, Pak has that ability to do it, go head and start as soon as you can, sooner is better.
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Aug 05, 2016 03:30am
This story has lot of loop holes. What was Punjab government helicopter doing over Afghan territory and why did it need to go for maintenance to Uzbekistan? Why were there 7 people on board for a maintenance mission? Did it crash or was it shot at? Who took the hostages? Why the chopper and hence the evidence destroyed.
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Aug 05, 2016 04:16am
Does a copper that can take up that long flight, really need repairs? If so, then the lives of the crew and the chopper was at risk anyway. Why they flew that low and through unsafe air route?
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Aug 05, 2016 04:38am
Avoid Afghanistan when flying... Fly a bit extra and go through Iran or China.
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Aug 05, 2016 04:50am
Well, if we still are not learning, then God help us.
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Aug 05, 2016 05:36am
If it can fly all the way to Uzbekistan, why need repair? why Uzbekistan? why not Dubai?
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Aug 05, 2016 06:05am
Why an helicopter needed repair has to fly that faraway? Why 7 people including a military general ? This story is very fishy.
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Aug 05, 2016 06:46am
Very sad, hope Afgan will release the hostage soon. Not a good sign of crashing, both pak and india shall develop technology instead of relying on other countries like US and China. it would have better if pak tried initially itself, then only for US help.
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Aug 05, 2016 07:21am
We can make nuclear bombs but cant repair helicopter. And why did it have 7 passengers? Perhaps 2-3 wouldve been more than wnough.
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Aug 05, 2016 07:34am
What was it doing in Afghanistan.
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Aug 05, 2016 07:41am
How does someone know it were Taliban who set the helicopter on fire. There were military personnel on board a civil helicopter?
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Aug 05, 2016 07:45am
I am surprised at this news.If the helicopter needed repair it should be sent to Russia by sea why take risk of sending crew with it,is it not a security lapse.It is requested
that in future do not repeat such mistake.
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Aug 05, 2016 07:45am
ITS NOT GOOD FOR GOVT.
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Aug 05, 2016 07:47am
not a good news for govt.
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Aug 05, 2016 08:13am
Feed a snake and he bites you. Yet we don't take heed of this.
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Aug 05, 2016 08:26am
@Faisal Flying through AFG was not problem but problem is it crash landed. Got it?
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Aug 05, 2016 08:36am
@Zubaida Khan the sharief family shows no respect for the treasury official vacation for the selected few.
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Aug 05, 2016 08:37am
It is not however clear what the Pakistani helicopter was doing in Afghan air space over Logar province which is close to Kabul.
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Aug 05, 2016 08:39am
@Jaleel Please do not expect this govt to tell us the truth.
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Aug 05, 2016 08:47am
@Sami Shahid
Go try to rescue .you will be then looking for rescue team.
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Aug 05, 2016 09:07am
This is sad loss of life, fuel and property.
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Aug 05, 2016 09:13am
Frankly, I pray for the lives of all taken hostage. The Mi-17 chopper does not seem to be such a hot cake given the number of 7 crashes in 8 years. More importantly, I pray for the lives of the hostages. Salams
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Aug 05, 2016 09:28am
"DawnNews reported the helicopter had seven people onboard at the time of the incident, and was on its way for maintenance to Uzbekistan.". Why maintenance of even a helicopter can not be arranged in our country ?
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Aug 05, 2016 09:59am
@Mubashir Munir Well thought out comment.
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Aug 05, 2016 10:21am
Very tragic. I pray for the safety of the crew.
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Aug 05, 2016 11:19am
So what if it crashed, will buy a new one after raising taxes on the people of Punjab and making their living slightly more difficult, they are brave people.
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Aug 05, 2016 11:26am
@Shah Saab Dear Shah Sahab, many companies like manufacturers of heavy machinery are selling their products with a condition that only they will provide support and maintenance service.
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Aug 05, 2016 12:10pm
@Ahmad We are experiencing a hostage situation here. That would not happen if you are flying over civilized countries. Got it.
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Aug 05, 2016 12:20pm
in short it is "Aasmaan se gira, khajoor mein atka" for the heli crew... May they reach back safe and sound.. Amen!
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Aug 05, 2016 12:45pm
It is heartening to see such a concern for this incident, as it reflects that we are concern about what is happening around us. Few clarifications about the incident
1. The helicopter was on scheduled flight for overhauling.
2. Normal practice is getting clearance from the country through which you intended to fly and in this case it was done with Afghan Civil Aviation.
3. Helicopter encountered in-flight technical problem compelling it to land or make emergency landing.
4. Apparently it landed safely after that the crew was abducted.
5. In long hauls like this one it is advisable to take additional crew. In normal cases
MI-17 crew is 4 people, captain,copilot,flight engineer and a crew chief.
6. Additional crew is for imparting experience for international flights and catering for fatigue of crew during flight.
7. Russian member of the crew was to cater for the language assistance of en-route air traffic controllers.
It is yet to be assessed whether the helicopter was downed by some hostile action or due to technical reasons.. we all should pray for safe recovery of crew.
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Aug 05, 2016 02:17pm
The big problem with Russian hardware is that it does not have modular design. This is one big drawback in modern times. Russian toys are cheap initially, but have a lot of maintenance requirements - which offset the initial cost saved, and leaves you highly dependent on Russia for parts and their costs.
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Aug 05, 2016 02:35pm
Every thing is tied up before hand for such flights.We need to see whether it came on ground due technical or hostile action. If it is a hostile action then we have implications. Excessive crew is for training purpose and catering for crew fatigue. Russian on board is for interpretation purposes. We must pray for the safe return of all who were on board.
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Aug 05, 2016 05:37pm
About Russian deals in military equipment, a friend of mine, then serving in the Indian Air Force, told me that if you are buying five bicycles from Russia, they insist that you buy five air pumps also to inflate the tyres. Thank God, India got out of the clutches of Russia.
R.S. Menon, Bangalore
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Aug 06, 2016 04:29pm
It was set on fire to hide identification. Captives must be interrogated to get to the bottom of the truth.
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Aug 07, 2016 09:33am
@Vague Buster .... Why this logic not applicable to army choppers?
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