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April 22nd, 2013 
Peter Nolan
Mr Hamid said local elders were attempting to negotiate the release of the
captives, but he called on the central government to provide support to
police and soldiers in the area.
He said it would be impossible for local forces to pursue the kidnappers
through the district’s rugged terrain without helicopters.
The helicopter was owned by an air charter company called Khorasan Cargo
Airlines and an employee said it was carrying seven Turkish engineers two
Russian pilots and an Afghan.
The company spoke to the pilots on Sunday afternoon but had heard nothing from
them since, the staff member said.
High altitude, dust storms and extreme climate all pose threats to the numerous
helicopters plying routes between military bases and cities in Afghanistan.
The Taliban have also managed to shoot down aircraft in the past.
A spokesman for the Nato coalition said: “We can confirm a civilian helicopter
is down in eastern Afghanistan. [The coalition] is assisting with the
recovery of the helicopter.
“Initial reports suggest there was no enemy activity in the area at the
time it went down.”
Khorasan flies Russian Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters as well as fixed-wing
aircraft in Afghanistan. They offer troops and cargo transportation as well
as medivac and civilian passenger transport.
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