Red Cross Helicopter Missing; 7 on Board (Pakistan)

Jan 22, 2006

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan - A helicopter used by the Red Cross for earthquake relief operations in Pakistan has gone missing with seven crew members on board, an official said Sunday.

The helicopter lost contact with the air control tower after leaving the northwestern city of Peshawar on Saturday, Red Cross quake relief chief Andre Paquet said.

The helicopter had been chartered by Turkmenistan to the International Committee of the Red Cross for relief work in the quake zone for the past three months. The Mi-8 transport craft was returning to Turkmenistan, Paquet said.

The helicopter left Peshawar around noon Saturday and lost contact with the tower half an hour later after crossing the Afghan border, said Paquet, who did not have any more details.

"We are still searching for the helicopter," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060122/ap_on_re_as/pakistan_quake_helicopter_missing;_ylt=A9FJqYrUcdNDXMEA1RKs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

due to rain!