View Full Version : Russian Mi-26 arrested in western Sudan
News Article by AP posted on July 24, 2003 at 12:30:42: EST (-5 GMT)
Russia demands release of helicopter crew in Sudan
MOSCOW, Jul 24, 2003 (AP) -- Russia has demanded that Sudanese authorities release the crew of a Russia cargo helicopter that was seized in the city of al-Fasher on its way to Congo, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday.
The Russian company that owns the Mi-26 helicopter, Vertikal-T, said its crew was arrested in al-Fasher, in western Sudan, after the craft was seized by military authorities there Monday, the Interfax news agency reported.
Vertikal-T said the helicopter was bringing humanitarian supplies to Congo, but that Sudanese authorities claimed that it was performing a military mission and did not have the appropriate permission to fly through Sudan, Interfax reported.
"The Sudanese say that the documents for transit were filled out incorrectly," Yakovenko said in televised comments. He said Russian Embassy in Sudan was in contact with authorities in an effort to clear up the matter and free the crew.
Interfax quoted an unnamed spokesman for Vertikal-T as saying the helicopter was conducting the flight under a contract with the United Nations and was marked with U.N. symbols.
The spokesman said the crew had been locked in a clay hut, denied access to the helicopter, given no drinking water Wednesday and were being give meals only once a day, according to Interfax.
4granted
25th Jul 2003, 18:22
Saw the Mi 26 land here in Khartoon.
Why would they stop it in Al Fasher when it was'nt stopped in HSSS?
Any way Im going to Al Fasher tommorrow and will check it out....
st4g:mad: :mad: :mad:
4granted
26th Jul 2003, 22:53
Got back from Al Fash this pm. and Mi 26 back in Khartoum????
Must be sorted out I hope.
Cheers
4g:cool:
Gunship
29th Jul 2003, 10:40
Sad that I missed this post. 4 G you did not get a tail number perhaps.
Was it definately pure white with the big UN markings ?
Long range fuel tanks on the inside ? (4 x 5000 liter tanks) ?
Cheers,
Gunzzzz
4granted
30th Jul 2003, 00:58
Will get tail no. tommorrow as Mi 26 still stuck here in Kartoon under gaurd. Did hear a rumour that it would have been resolved today. The big question is why did they go to Al Fasher, its nowhere near there route southbound to DRC as was reported. Lots of your airies there in Al Fash though.......have photos if you like?
Cheers
:= 4g
Gunship
30th Jul 2003, 01:39
Lo 4G !
Many thanks for your help.
Eischh me and my friends. Seems like another friend leased a Mi-26 for the Congo and there is a problem ... :confused:
So what I thought - maybe it is this one that is still in UN colours (maybe from service after it came from Sierra Leone (we had 5 at a stage)... If it is so at least he can keep track and sort thing out quicker.
Pics will be welcomed anytime to
[email protected]
Cheers and many thanks,
Gunzzzz
Sudan frees Russian helicopter
KHARTOUM, Jul 29, 2003 (Xinhua) -- Sudan released a Russian helicopter and all its 13-member crew on Tuesday after a diplomatic row between the two sides for more than a week.
"I now announce the setting free of the plane and the handing over of the crew members to the Russian Embassy to transport them to their country," Sudanese State Minister of Foreign Relations Chol Deng Alak told a news conference here.
The Russian Mi-26 giant helicopter, which was ordered to land on Sudanese territory and captured last Thursday, was heading to the Democratic Republic of Congo on a UN mission.
The Sudanese authorities had seized the transport helicopter after becoming suspicious of its movements in the Darfur region of western Sudan, where "the armed forces have been conducting military operations against rebels," Alak explained.
The anti-government rebels in Darfur took up arms in February, accusing Khartoum of excluding the region from development and a share in state power.
After an inquiry which had shown the helicopter had "committed security and civil contraventions", the Sudanese government had asked Russia to look into and respond to these concerns, Alak added.
However, Moscow had noted that the helicopter, owned by Russia's Vertikal-T airline, was under contract to the United Nations and on its way to join a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Moscow warned Khartoum of "unpleasant" consequences unless they were freed immediately.
The release of the helicopter and crew "underscores how seriously it (Sudan) viewed Russia's urgent appeals on the matter," Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Moscow hopes that "there will be no further such incidents in our relations," the statement said.
AdamCG
30th Jul 2003, 20:27
Sudan Lashes Back
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) -- Sudan has accused a Russian helicopter crew of involvement in a rebellion in western Sudan, disputing Russia's claims that it was only crossing Sudanese air space, but said it wants to clear up the issue "as soon as possible."
State-run television said Foreign Minister Chol Deng Alak received a telephone call from Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov about the cargo helicopter and its crew.
"The helicopter's landing at nine locations of unrest inside [Darfur] state has raised doubts about the helicopter," Alak was quoted as telling Ivanov. Alak also told Ivanov that Sudan "is keen to handle the issue as soon as possible."
The Mi-26 and its crew were detained July 21 in the western city of al-Fasher. On Monday, Russia lodged a formal protest with Sudan.
The radio said the government also found an unspecified number of locations marked on the helicopter's maps, all in areas of unrest in Darfur state in western Sudan.
The official television gave no further details.
Russia says the helicopter was traveling through Sudan on its way to Congo, where it was to aid a UN peacemaking mission.
4granted
30th Jul 2003, 22:40
Its RA 06274
Still here today.... ok then email on its way. cheers
4g