PHNOM PENH: A Cambodian military helicopter has been reported missing following an incident attributed to adverse weather conditions in the southwestern part of the country, confirmed the defense ministry on Saturday.
In a Facebook post, the ministry stated that the helicopter lost communication with air force headquarters during a training mission in the rugged Cardamom Mountains, densely covered with rainforest.
“The accident occurred due to severe weather conditions,” the ministry added, without specifying the exact timing of the incident, the helicopter model involved, or the number of individuals on board.
Sources from the air force informed AFP that the missing helicopter is believed to be a Chinese-made Z-9, with at least two people aboard during the training exercise on Friday.
Rescue operations commenced Saturday morning to locate the missing helicopter, but as of the latest update, it has not been found.
Cambodia had acquired 12 Z-9 helicopters from China in 2013 to enhance its military capabilities. Tragically, in 2014, four Cambodian soldiers lost their lives and one was injured when a Z-9 exploded mid-air and crashed into a water-filled quarry during a training session near the capital Phnom Penh.
In a previous incident in 2008, Cambodia’s police chief Hok Lundy perished in a helicopter crash due to bad weather, along with the deputy army commander and two pilots.
