In a tragic incident on Saturday, a chartered helicopter belonging to Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) crashed in North Waziristan, killing six people and injuring 10 others.
The helicopter, an Mi-8 model, went down near an oilfield in the Shewa tehsil shortly after take-off, and initial investigations suggest the crash was caused by a technical fault, with no signs of sabotage detected.
The helicopter had 21 individuals on board, including two foreign pilots, and was en route from Islamabad to Shewa and later to Bannu. The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has launched an investigation, while search and rescue operations were promptly carried out, with the injured being airlifted to a military hospital.
Crash Details and Emergency Landing Attempt
The Mi-8 helicopter, leased by Mari Petroleum from Russia’s PANH Helicopters, was operating under a wet lease agreement facilitated by Princely Jets. On the day of the incident, the helicopter took off from Islamabad at 11:15 a.m. for Shewa, with another take-off from Shewa at 1:15 p.m. for Bannu after a passenger change. However, shortly after taking off from Shewa, the helicopter encountered engine failure.
Sources close to the incident revealed that the pilots attempted an emergency landing to prevent a catastrophe, but during the maneuver, the tail rotor of the helicopter struck the ground. This critical impact caused the helicopter to topple, resulting in the crash. In the aftermath, six crew members, a safety officer, and 14 passengers were caught in the devastation.
Military helicopters and rescue teams were dispatched from Peshawar to aid in the evacuation of the injured. The severely injured passengers were airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) for medical treatment, with sources confirming that 10 individuals survived the crash but suffered injuries.
Technical Fault Identified as Cause of Crash
Initial investigations have pointed to a technical fault as the cause of the tragic accident, with no evidence of sabotage or foul play found. The Mi-8MTV-1 helicopter, registered as RA-24537 with serial number MSN 97518, was leased from PANH Helicopters and had been supporting Mari Petroleum’s operations in remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan.
The helicopter was instrumental in Mari Petroleum’s exploration activities in the Waziristan Block, formerly known as Bannu West. This area has been crucial for Pakistan’s energy sector, with Mari Petroleum discovering significant gas and condensate deposits at the Shewa-1 exploratory well in June 2022. This discovery was the largest hydrocarbon find in the country in over a decade, highlighting the strategic importance of the region.
Despite this, the helicopter was operating under strenuous conditions in these remote areas, and the technical fault that led to the crash underscores the challenges of ensuring operational safety in such environments. The wet lease agreement, sanctioned by the PCAA, was set to expire on September 28, 2024 — the very day the fatal crash occurred.
Ongoing Investigation and Impact on Petroleum Operations
As the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and the Bureau of Safety Investigation begin a thorough inquiry into the crash, the future of helicopter operations in these remote oil exploration zones will be under scrutiny. Mari Petroleum has been a significant player in Pakistan’s energy sector, and the Waziristan Block remains one of its key operational zones.
This region’s importance was further reinforced by the company’s recent achievements. After the major gas and condensate discovery at Shewa-1, Mari Petroleum continued its exploratory activities and achieved another success at the Shewa-2 appraisal-cum-exploratory well, which was spudded on June 12, 2023.
The incident, however, could have wider implications for the company’s operations. Mari Petroleum relies on helicopter services to transport staff and equipment to remote oilfields in the tribal regions of KP and Balochistan. The crash could lead to stricter safety protocols and possibly a review of the use of leased helicopters in these challenging terrains.
For now, the primary focus remains on the investigation, which will determine the exact cause of the crash and offer recommendations to prevent such tragedies in the future. The detailed inquiry by the Bureau of Safety Investigation will provide further clarity on whether operational procedures or technical issues contributed to the failure of the helicopter.
This tragic event has cast a shadow over Mari Petroleum’s recent successes and brought to the forefront the risks involved in operating in Pakistan’s remote and volatile regions. The crash serves as a somber reminder of the potential dangers faced by those involved in the country’s critical energy sector, as well as the importance of rigorous safety standards in high-risk industries.
As investigations continue, the families of the deceased and injured are left grappling with the devastating consequences of the crash, while the energy sector braces for the potential fallout from this disaster.
