Special report: Reconstruction After Earthquake

Photo taken on May 16, 2008 shows that a Mi-171 transport helicopter is ready to transport people from quake-hit Maoxian County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, to a safe place. A Mi-171 transport helicopter engaging in quake relief work near the Yingxiu Township, Wenchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province crashed on Saturday afternoon, according to military sources.(Xinhua/Li Gang) Photo Gallery>>>

Helicopter crashes while on duty in quake zones

    CHENGDU, June 1 (Xinhua) -- A military transport helicopter engaging in quake relief work near the Yingxiu Township, Wenchuan County in Southwest China's Sichuan Province crashed on Saturday afternoon, according to military sources.

    A crew of five and 14 injured local residents were on board for transfer when the Mi-171 helicopter with the quake relief troops of the Chengdu Military Area Command crashed at 2:56 p.m., the military sources said.

    The helicopter was returning from a mission to carry epidemic prevention experts to Lixian county when it encountered strong turbulence and fog and crashed.

    Chinese President Hu Jintao, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, has instructed local authorities to carry out search and rescue operations immediately.  Full story

Chinese military officers discuss a plan for the searching of the crashed helicopter at Fenghuangshan airport in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 1, 2008. A military transport helicopter engaging in quake relief work near the Yingxiu Township, Wenchuan County in Southwest China's Sichuan Province crashed on Saturday afternoon, according to military sources.(Xinhua/Li Gang) Photo Gallery>>>