Six killed in helicopter crash in northwest Pakistan

A helicopter crash in North Waziristan on Saturday resulted in the deaths of six people, including three Russians, and left eight others injured. The MI-8 helicopter was carrying 14 passengers including three foreign pilots and crew.

The Mari Petroleum spokesperson stated that a technical fault in the engine caused the crash during takeoff. The tail rotor struck the ground during an emergency landing after the engine failure, leading to the crash.

The chartered flight was transporting employees of Mari Petroleum, a leading oil and gas exploration company in Pakistan when it crashed in the Shiv area of North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

According to a security official, the injured were taken to a military hospital in the nearby town of Thal.

Although there were no signs of sabotage, investigations into the cause of the technical fault are underway, with Mari Petroleum and relevant authorities working to determine the details.