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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Hunt for missing WWF helicopter | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A search is under way for a helicopter carrying 24 people, including WWF conservationists, which has gone missing in eastern Nepal. | |
| The helicopter lost radio contact during bad weather after it took off in a mountainous district. | The helicopter lost radio contact during bad weather after it took off in a mountainous district. |
| Five rescue helicopters took off early on Sunday to resume an air search for the craft. | Five rescue helicopters took off early on Sunday to resume an air search for the craft. |
| It was not immediately clear if the helicopter had crashed or was able to make an emergency landing. | It was not immediately clear if the helicopter had crashed or was able to make an emergency landing. |
| Officials said rain and low visibility were hampering efforts to find the helicopter, missing since noon local time (0615 GMT) on Saturday. | Officials said rain and low visibility were hampering efforts to find the helicopter, missing since noon local time (0615 GMT) on Saturday. |
| Multiple nationalities | Multiple nationalities |
| "These helicopters have been forced to comb the area from higher altitude because of rain and fog cover in the area," Nepal's Civil Aviation Minister Pradeep Gyawali said. | "These helicopters have been forced to comb the area from higher altitude because of rain and fog cover in the area," Nepal's Civil Aviation Minister Pradeep Gyawali said. |
| He said poor weather meant that the rescue teams had been unable to fly closer to the ground or land in the area. | He said poor weather meant that the rescue teams had been unable to fly closer to the ground or land in the area. |
| Seven WWF employees are among the missing, including four Nepalis, an Australian, a Canadian and an American, the organisation said. | Seven WWF employees are among the missing, including four Nepalis, an Australian, a Canadian and an American, the organisation said. |
| Also listed among the missing are a Finnish diplomat, a US aid-worker and two Russian crew members as well as Nepalese officials and reporters. | Also listed among the missing are a Finnish diplomat, a US aid-worker and two Russian crew members as well as Nepalese officials and reporters. |
| A team of 90 soldiers and policemen have also been sent to the area on foot to help another ground team already there. | A team of 90 soldiers and policemen have also been sent to the area on foot to help another ground team already there. |
| The helicopter party was returning from a landmark ceremony to hand over the Kangenjunga conservation area from the government to the local community. | The helicopter party was returning from a landmark ceremony to hand over the Kangenjunga conservation area from the government to the local community. |
| The helicopter, identified as a Russian-made Mi-17, had been on a 20-minute flight to a local airport, where the passengers had been due to take a flight to the capital, Kathmandu. | The helicopter, identified as a Russian-made Mi-17, had been on a 20-minute flight to a local airport, where the passengers had been due to take a flight to the capital, Kathmandu. |