Eight people confirmed onboard border police helicopter that crashed during Gudauri rescue operation

Eight people have been confirmed to have been onboard the border police helicopter that crashed in the winter resort town of Gudauri in the north of Georgia on Friday, the Georgian Interior Ministry has said.

The helicopter on a rescue operation in Gudauri lost control and crashed in a ravine on Friday. The MIA said the helicopter had been carrying rescuers of the Emergency Management Service and first aid responders called to assist paragliders who had ended up in the ravine earlier.

The relevant units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are mobilised in the vicinity of Gudauri, at the scene of the incident and are conducting all necessary measures”, the statement noted.

There were four crew members onboard the helicopter, as well as two rescuers from the emergency management service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and two medics from the emergency coordination and emergency assistance centre. The Ministry of Internal Affairs continues conducting rescue measures.

The investigation into the violation of air transport traffic rules is underway under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

Due to the incident, the traffic on the Mtskheta-Stephantsminda-Larsi road is temporarily prohibited.