Cambodian Military Helicopter Wreckage Discovered in Cardamom Mountains

A Cambodian military helicopter, missing for over two weeks, was recently found in the Cardamom Mountains. Initial reports indicate no survivors. The helicopter, a Chinese-made Z-9 model, was spotted in a dense forest, making recovery challenging. Reports suggest the body of one pilot has been located. Past incidents highlight the dangerous nature of such flights.

The wreckage of a Cambodian military helicopter, missing for more than two weeks, was discovered Monday on a mountaintop with no immediate signs of survivors, according to government and state news agency reports.

The Defence Ministry announced on its Facebook page that a search flight found the remains of the Chinese-made Z-9 helicopter in the heavily forested Cardamom Mountains, located in the southwestern province of Pursat. Military personnel have been dispatched to the site, although access remains difficult due to dense foliage and adverse weather conditions, the ministry noted.

While the ministry did not confirm the presence of bodies or survivors, the state news agency AKP reported an unnamed senior defense official stating that the body of one pilot was visible, and recovery efforts are ongoing to locate the other. The helicopter, manned by two pilots, was on a training flight and lost contact with air force headquarters on July 12 amid poor weather conditions, triggering an intensive search.

A widely circulated photo on social media depicted the helicopter broken into several parts, partially covered by foliage, though the authenticity of the image could not be immediately verified.

This incident echoes a 2014 crash of another Chinese-made Z-9 helicopter, which resulted in the deaths of two air force generals and two pilots near the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.

(With inputs from agencies.)