BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — An Azerbaijani air force helicopter crashed into the Caspian Sea Monday, killing all three people aboard, officials said.
The Defense Ministry said in a statement that the Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter, which it said belonged to the army's medical service, disappeared from radar view at 10:30 a.m. Privately owned news agency APA said the helicopter was traveling from the capital, Baku, to the central town of Kyurdamir to pick up sick soldiers.
Emergency officials said the helicopter came down 300 meters (yards) from the shore off the village of Shikh, which lies south of Baku. One body has so far been recovered, emergency workers said. Ships, boats and helicopters have been dispatched in a search operation. No official explanation for the crash has been provided.
The oil-rich former Soviet nation of 9 million people has invested heavily in its defense sector over recent years. The government announced this month that the 2013 defense budget will rise to $3.7 billion, from $3 billion last year.
US
International
India
Россия
Română
Singapore
South Africa
México
Indonesia
Brasileira
