Helicopter crash kills six, injures eight

By Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD: A helicopter chartered by Mari Petroleum Company Ltd (MPCL) crashed in the country’s northwestern region on Saturday, killing six people and injuring eight, the company said.

The Mi-8 helicopter, carrying 14 passengers including three foreign pilots, went down near the Shewa oil field in North Waziristan due to engine failure, with no signs of sabotage, MPCL said in a statement.

“A technical fault occurred in the helicopter while taking off. The tail rotor hit the ground while making an emergency landing and an investigation into the accident has started,” MPCL stated.

Relief operations are underway, with the injured taken to a military hospital in Thal.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed the incident, saying the helicopter departed Islamabad at 11:15 am and attempted an emergency landing in Shewa after engine failure.

The helicopter was operated by MPCL for oil and gas exploration in remote areas. The Russian-made Mi-8 was leased by Princely Jet from PANH Helicopters, which was responsible for maintenance and crew training. The CAA had issued a six-month air operator certificate for the lease, set to expire this month.