SOCIETY
AZAL HELICOPTER CRASHES INTO SEA
A MI-8T helicopter of the Azerbaijan Airlines`(AZAL) Azalhelicopter company crashed into the sea on Friday.
The helicopter came down at 21.58 while on a medical evacuation mission from “Khazar-4” floating drilling rig of State Oil Company Azerbaijan.
An initial report suggested four crew members Viktor Glinenko, Vladimir Nekrasov, Ahmad Aliyev and Jahid Ibrahimov, and two SOCAR employees Gahraman Asadov and Zahid Sostayev died.
A rescue operation was put into motion with helicopters and lifeboats involved.
AZAL said a full pre take-off check of the craft carried out by the crew revealed no technical problems.
Azerbaijan Airlines has set up a special commission to deal with the accident.
Experts of the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Emergency Situations and National Security have been involved in an investigation launched by the prosecutor-general`s office.
