Kazakhstan asking French experts to help search for MI-8 helicopter

Kazakhstan has applied to French experts asking them to help in the search for the missing helicopter with 8 crew members on board, Tengrinews.kz reports citing Kazakhstan Minister of Transport and Communications. According to the authority, the talks are underway with the French experts about provision of detailed satellite images of the area where the helicopter disappeared. Kazakhstan rescuers believe that this information will help find the chopper that went missing on November 24. The search operation in Kazakhstan involves four MI-8 helicopters, 54 people and 13 vehicles on the ground. Earlier Tengrinews.kz English reported the divers were searching for the helicopter in Alakol lake as well. The operation is getting more complicated because of a strong wind and bad weather. The helicopter took off on November 24 at 08.30 to fly over the Ushara-Dostyk section of the Atasu – Alashankow oil pipeline. At 12.30 the same day the contact with the helicopter was lost. By Roza Yessenkulova