The helicopter of the Kazakh Committee for National Security's Border Guard crashed in the South Kazakhstan region on Sept.8 due to the fact that the tail caught the cliff, Ferghana.Ru reported, citing Vesti.kz.
It has been revealed that the helicopter was sent to the Ugam Gorge after the Kazakh Committee for National Security received a message from the Uzbek Border Guard that six gunmen were intending to illegally cross the Kazakh-Uzbek border. In response to this, the command of the Regional Control "Оntustik" of the Kazakh Committee for National Security's Border Guard adopted measures to strengthen border security. The Mi-8 helicopter with the "Arlan" search- reconnaissance team from the Regional Control "Оntustik's" Sariagash border detachment flew to the mountainous area of the Ugam Gorge. 13 military men, including the crew, were on board the MI-8 helicopter, the committee said.
At 10:30 Astana time the helicopter crashed. Ugam forestry workers reported the helicopter crash in the Ugam Gorge.
According to rescuers, three people were flung out of the helicopter as it struck the cliff. After that, the Mi-8 crashed and exploded. Ten soldiers were burned. The injured consists of the navigator, who received a thigh injury, the warrant officer, who damaged his spine, and the senior sergeant, who has injured limbs. They have been hospitalized at the Shymkent Emergency Hospital.
At present, the Border Services, together with Emergency Ministry and Defense Ministry units, are conducting a search and rescue mission at the crash scene.
Information on the gunmen's' location has not yet been reported.