UN Helicopter Crashed Crashed In Sudan, 2 Crew Members Killed

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) confirmed that three Russian crew members have been killed on Tuesday (26 Aug) after an MI-8 helicopter crashed near Bentiu in Unity State.

One surviving crew member has received treatment from the Médecins Sans Frontieres team in Bentiu.

The Russian-contracted helicopter was on a routine cargo flight from Wau in Western Bahr El Ghazal State to Bentiu, lost contact with UNMISS at 14:28 hours.
"I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wish a full and speedy recovery to the injured crew member," said Toby Lanzer, the officer-in-charge of UNMISS.

The mission is launching an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

SHOTLIST:
26 AUGUST 2014, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN

Mi8 helicopter on tarmac (**like the one that crashed today**)
Mi8 sign on helicopter
Mi8 helicopter
Mi8 tail with United Nations
Back doors of Mi8 with UN
Mi8 sitting on tarmac with Mi26 in the background

SOUNDBITE (English) Toby Lanzer – Officer in Charge of the United Nations Mission to South Sudan UNMISS
"So this afternoon at about three o'clock we received a report that one of our helicopters an Mi8 had crashed about ten kilometers south of Bentiu in Unity State. This is one of the States that is most affected by the conflict which has been going on in South Sudan for some months now. We immediately deployed a team to the area where we thought we had heard some form of explosion or crash. The search and rescue team has come across the helicopter that was on a routine cargo flight from the city of Wau to Bentiu today. This is a Russian helicopter. The model is known as an Mi8. There were four crew members, all Russian citizens and I do fear that some of them may have lost their lives."

DURATION: 01:42