UN helicopter crash kills three in South Sudan

An Ethiopian military helicopter with 23 passengers on board has crashed on Saturday inside the compound of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) killing threer of its crew members.

The MI-8 helicopter was on routine operation carrying Ethiopian troops on rotation from Kadugli to Abyei when it crashed.

Ten passengers were injured, and two are in critical condition at the UNISFA Level II hospital in Abyei, South Sudan.

The immediate cause of the crash is not yet known.

UNISFA’s acting Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Gebre Adhana Woldezgu said, “We are investigating the incident.”

“We are deeply saddened by what happened this afternoon. We are extending our condolences to the families of those who died in the crash,” Major General Woldezgu said.

3 dead as Ethiopian helicopter crashes at UN compound https://t.co/sDwpY6sbUN pic.twitter.com/OfAAZWt2xy

— AROORYOMEDIA.COM (@arooryo) February 10, 2019

The helicopter flew from Kadugli for the Mission’s regular troop rotation. UNISFA’s sole troop contributing country Ethiopia is currently rotating its soldiers from Kadugli to different sites in the Abyei area.

Ethiopia has around 4,500 personnel on the ground to support UNISFA’s efforts of ensuring peace and security in Abyei.

#UN helicopter crashes in #SouthSudan #UNISFA today. My deepest condolences ⚫️ pic.twitter.com/lpZD1K5Z5g

— Andres Molina (@andrezmolinares) February 9, 2019

Three killed when Ethiopian military helicopter crashes at a UN compound near disputed border between Sudan and South Sudan https://t.co/m7jJ8A9Q5A

— Bloomberg (@business) February 10, 2019

AFP