BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan: Nine people including six soldiers were killed when a military helicopter crashed in eastern Uzbekistan, state media said on Wednesday.
The crash involving a defence ministry Mi-171 chopper took place on Tuesday in ex-Soviet Uzbekistan´s Fergana region, the state-owned Uzreport website reported citing the defence ministry.
"As a result of the accident 3 crew members and 6 members of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan on board were killed," the website said.
The report added that a special state commission had been set up by the defence ministry to investigate the crash.
Authoritarian Uzbekistan is in the middle of a political transition following the death of long-reigning autocrat Islam Karimov, who was buried last month aged 78 after a reported stroke.
Acting President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who served as prime minister under Karimov for 13 years, is widely tipped to win a December 4 presidential election.
The country of over 30 million shares a border with Afghanistan and hosted a US military based used in Washington´s operations there before a fallout over human rights saw US personnel evicted.
-
UK Starmer rules out US trade war, calls for ‘calm diplomacy’ over Greenland -
IMF’s World Economic Outlook: ‘Resilient’ 2026 growth expected amid tariffs & AI boom -
South Korea, Italy strengthen ties to bolster AI technology, business, defence cooperation -
Elon Musk shares crucial advice as China’s birth rate hits record low since 1949 -
Tesla emerges early winner as Canada welcomes Chinese EVs: Here’s why -
CBS finally airs Trump’s full interview 'pulled' earlier after White House threatens to Sue -
Robert Irwin gets honest about being in South Africa after 'DWTS' run in LA -
Trump vows to neutralize ‘Russian threat’ from Greenland, raising Arctic stakes