The Embassy of Russia in Pakistan confirmed the death of two of its citizens, Nikolai Rybakovich and Samvel Mardoian, in a helicopter crash in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan last week.

In a statement, the embassy said that a Belarusian pilot Sergei Koshelev was also killed. “They were on board the helicopter that crashed on September 28 in North Waziristan,” it said.

“We express our deepest condolences to the families and friends of all the victims of the catastrophe and wish a speedy recovery to those injured.”

They were among six people killed when a chartered helicopter carrying six crew members, one safety officer, and 14 passengers crashed in the KP’s district.

An oil exploration and production company in Pakistan, Mari Petroleum, chartered MI8 helicopter, which crashed near Shewa oil field due to a technical fault, said the sources.

Mari Gas Company had been using this Russian-made helicopter for oil and gas exploration in remote areas. The helicopter was “wet-leased by Princely Jet Company from the Russian company PANH Helicopters,” according to the Civil Aviation Authority.

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The authority stated that a six-month air operator certificate had been issued in compliance with legal requirements for the helicopter. The wet-lease agreement was set to “expire on September 28, 2024.”

Under the lease agreement, the maintenance and crew training of the helicopter were the responsibility of the Russian company PANH, it said. The Bureau of Safety Investigation will conduct further investigations into the accident.