Post date: Jun 10, 2012 12:19:35 PM
CUSCO, PERU (JUNE 9, 2012) - On Saturday (June 9), Peruvian search and rescue officials reached the crash site of a missing helicopter carrying three Peruvians, eight South Koreans and three European citizens from the Czech Republic, Sweden and the Netherlands. Authorities found no survivors.
Peruvian officials reach site where helicopter carrying Peruvian crew members, eight South Koreans and three Europeans went missing.
According to officials, the helicopter, which was travelling in bad weather, appeared to have collided into the side of the Mama Rosa mountain and exploded on impact.
Amateur video showed helicopter wreckage and charred remains scattered on the mountainside.
The helicopter has been missing since Wednesday (June 6). Rescue efforts were halted by bad weather on Thursday (June 7) but a Peruvian airforce aircraft resumed flights on Saturday over the search and rescue area while weather conditions permitted.
Battling snow and fog, authorities were scouring a terrain in the Hualla Hualla area of the Quispicanchis province that sits at over 4,500 metres (14,800 feet) above sea level. Personnel from the country's airforce have been searching for days for the missing crew and passengers using the last-known co-ordinates of the helicopter.
The helicopter took off from the Amazon region of Madre de Dios, authorities said. It was owned by a company specializing in tourist tours, Heli Cusco.