Missing Lao military helicopter found crashed, weather hampers rescue
A military transport helicopter carrying 19 passengers and four crew members to Houaphan and Xieng Khuang provinces in northern Laos which went missing two days ago has been found crashed, official sources have said, adding that a “high-ranking military patient” had been on board the flight.
Air traffic control in the capital Vientiane lost contact with the MI-17 helicopter at 1:10 p.m. local time on 27 July, shortly after it departed Wattay International Airport, heading for Houaphan and Xieng Khuang.
The aircraft was located crashed in a remote area of Xaysomboun province’s Longchaeng district, an official with Division 703 of the Lao Air Force told RFA’s Lao Service, speaking on condition of anonymity.
