Cambodian Military Helicopter Wreckage Discovered After Two-Week Search

The wreckage of a Cambodian military helicopter, missing for over two weeks, was found on a mountaintop in Pursat Province. The helicopter, with two pilots on board, lost contact during a training flight on July 12. Both pilots were found deceased at the crash site.

The wreckage of a Cambodian military helicopter missing for more than two weeks was discovered Monday atop a mountaintop in the Cardamom Mountains, according to government and state news agency reports.

A Defence Ministry statement on Facebook confirmed that a search flight had identified the remnants of the Chinese-made Z-9 helicopter in the thickly forested area of Pursat Province.

The helicopter had lost contact with air force headquarters during a training flight in bad weather on July 12. An extensive search was initiated the following day.

Military recovery personnel dispatched to the crash site found the body of one pilot inside the mangled helicopter, while the body of the second pilot was located roughly 200 meters away, state broadcaster TVK reported.

A widely circulated social media photo shows the helicopter wreckage fragmented and partially shrouded by foliage. The authenticity of the image and its source remains unverified.

Notably, a similar incident occurred in 2014 when another Chinese-made Z-9 helicopter crashed near Phnom Penh, claiming the lives of two air force generals and two pilots.

(With inputs from agencies.)