UN Union demands investigation of chopper crash

The UN Staff Union has demanded a review of the UN's helicopter operations and investigation into the chopper crash.

The union requested 'a full account of the causes' behind Monday's crash, which killed seven UN staff members and the helicopter's three-man crew, the Associated Press reported.

The union's Standing Committee on the Security and Independence of the International Civil Service further demanded that an examination should be carried out on how aircraft are contracted by the UN and its policies on air safety to determine whether they are adequate or sufficiently monitored.

The Union said families and colleagues of the victims have a right to know the cause of these accidents and if adequate air safety standards were met.

According to the report, four arms monitors killed in the crash include Mats Norhult of Sweden, Famara Jammeh of Gambia, Hyung Jum Park of South Korea and Sondang Irawan of Indonesia.

The UNMIN did note reveal the identities of the international staff while briefing the Nepali press about the incident on Tuesday. The three crewmen include Sergey Oreshenko and Nikolay Yamshchikov from Russia and Dzmitry Malyshau of Belarus.

The chopper burnt in air before crashing at Bethan while returning to Kathmandu from a Maoist camp at Sindhuli. nepalnews.com ia Mar 05 08

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