Saturday 17 March 2012
Sudan
Farm Minister in air crash
A helicopter crashed upon landing at Fao airport at Al-Rahad Agricultural Scheme, killing three of the 12 passengers on board.
Among the eight survivors is Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Abdul Haleem Ismail Al-Mutafi.
The Minister told the press that they were on a mission to inspect Al-Rahad and New Halfa agricultural schemes.
Ms Sami Abdullah, Ministry of Agriculture Information Officer, in an exclusive statement to Sudan Vision said the visit was arranged since last Sunday, adding that among the passengers on board was an Iranian national.
She said Prof. Al-Tahir Siddiq, Director of Agricultural Research Corporation in Wad Medani, Mr. Eissa Al-Rashid, spokesperson of the federal Ministry of Agriculture and the flight engineer Mr. Mohamed Ali were killed in the crash.
Izzat Izzeldine of the federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, Suleiman Al-Sir a photographer of the Ministry and Salah Taha of the Agricultural Bank were among those injured in the crash who were rushed to Fao hospital for treatment.
Civil Aviation spokesperson Abdul Hafiz Abdul Rahim said the crash was caused by a technical fault.
“The chopper experienced a technical fault when it took off” he said, adding “ The chopper was carrying eight passengers in addition to four crew members and those killed in the crash were three passengers: two from the Ministry of Agriculture and one crew member.”
Source: newsroom - farmingnewsdaily.co.uk
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