MOSCOW. July 24 (Interfax-AVN) - An MI-26T Halo transport helicopter owned by Russia's Vertikal-T air company, which was performing a UN humanitarian flight to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has been seized by Sudanese military authorities in the town of El Fasher.
"The crew have been arrested and are being held in very bad conditions," the company said in a press-release.
It said the helicopter was seized on Monday. It is marked with UN symbols, was flying in accordance with a schedule, and made authorized landings in all points marked on its route (Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Cameroon, Congo, and Democratic Republic of the Congo.)
The Sudanese military authorities argued that the helicopter was performing a military mission and that a permit to fly through Sudan had not been obtained with observance of the established procedure, the company said.
"The crew was locked in a clay hut and denied access to the helicopter. They remained without drinking water all through Wednesday and were given meals only in the evening. The company is maintaining contact with the crew by cell phone," a company spokesman said.
The air company has requested assistance from the Russian Foreign Ministry, the State Civil Aviation Council, the Russian Embassy in Sudan, and the UN.
The helicopter, based in the Tver region, was flying from Bykovo airport to the town of Kinsangani in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under a contract between the company and the UN.