A chartered helicopter belonging to Mari Petroleum met with tragedy in North Waziristan shortly after takeoff. The Mi-8 helicopter was departing near the Shiwa oil field when it crashed due to a technical fault. On board were three foreign Russian pilots and a total of 14 passengers, adding a layer of international concern to this unfortunate event.
According to reports, the crash resulted in the tragic loss of six lives and left eight others injured. The injured were promptly evacuated from the crash site and transported to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Thal, where they are currently receiving treatment. Further arrangements are being made to transfer some of the more critically injured patients by helicopter to larger medical facilities for specialized care.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the helicopter’s engine failure was the primary cause of the accident. Fortunately, no signs of foul play have been detected, which has eased concerns about potential sabotage. Witnesses report that the helicopter encountered a technical malfunction just after liftoff, leading to an emergency landing attempt.
Unfortunately, during this attempt, the helicopter’s tail rotor struck the ground, which contributed to the severity of the crash. Authorities have initiated a thorough investigation to uncover the exact circumstances surrounding this tragic incident, aiming to prevent similar occurrences in the future.