Over 100 people searching for missing helicopter in Almaty oblast; criminal case initiated

115 people are involved in the search for missing MI-8 helicopter in Almaty oblast, Tengrinews.kz reports citing the press-service of Almaty oblast's Emergency Situations Department. Today, on November 28 a helicopter of KazAviaSpas is to fly over the mountain gorge and over the western shore of Alakol lake from Koktuma village to southern shore. Meanwhile, the helicopter of Euro-Asia Air will check the section north of Sasykkol lake and east of Alakol shore line. Water-rescue forces and a rescue team of Almaty oblast Emergency Situations Department will continue the search with the use of the echosounder along the western shoreline to the southern edge of Alakol lake. Other participants of the operation will be involved in the ground operation and will check the area from Koktuma village to southern shore of Alakol lake. Earlier the rescuers performed 4 flights on three helicopters of Kazakhstan National Security Commission, Kazakhstan Emergency Situations Ministry and Euro-Asia Air. Besides, several teams on 13 cars, two boats and 8 horses are involved in the search operation. The regional Interior Department has deployed additional 33 of its employees, 6 Niva cars and 1 UAZ car. The search also involves local shepherds who have been informed of the accident. 6 employees have checked the areas along the pipeline on horses. Near-border service of Kazakhstan National Security Commission have checked all mountainous areas along the state border in the area. Kazakhstan transport prosecutor’s office has initiated a criminal case in relation to disappearance of the MI-8 helicopter in Almaty oblast. “On November 27 Druzhbinskaya transport prosecutor’s office initiated a criminal case on article 295 of the Criminal code - violation of safety rules of movement and exploitation of railroad, air and water transport - because of the urgency of the required investigation,” the prosecutors say. The criminal case is called to speed up the investigation and broden the circle of involves Kazakhstan authorities. The investigation will be held by transport interior authorities. The course of the search operation is under special control of the prosecutor’s office. The missing helicopter took off on November 24 at 08.30 to fly over the Usharal-Dostyk section of the Atasu – Alashankow oil pipeline. At 12.30 the same day the contact with the helicopter was lost. The 5-day long search operation has not given any results yet.