Six killed as ‘Ukrainian’ helicopter crashes in Slovakia

Six people were killed overnight when a Ukrainian helicopter crashed on the Slovak side of the Slovak-Ukrainian border, Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kalinak said on Friday.

The police discovered six bodies at the crash site on Friday but could not immediately identify the nationality or gender of the crash victims.

“The Mi-2 helicopter registered in Ukraine flew too low in very poor meteorological conditions as it wanted to evade the air traffic control system”, Netik said. Two Ukrainian citizens, and four people from the countries of Southeast Asia, including two women, were on board the helicopter.

The ministry said it was working with Ukrainian authorities to investigate and has hinted that people smuggling may have been involved.

Netik said the helicopter’s wreckage was found near the village of Stretavka.

They say the Mi-2 turbine-powered helicopter went down near Slovakia’s border with Ukraine, the eastern frontier of the European Union. “The direct cause of the accident is still unknown, the investigation is ongoing”, the minister said.

A rescue and a military helicopter crashed in Slovakia earlier this year.

Officials have observed bands of smugglers operating along the Ukrainian-Slovakian border undertaking daring means to haul large quantities of cigarettes across the border.