The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has confirmed that three crew members of a UN-contracted MI-8 helicopter have died in yesterday’s crash near Bentiu, Unity State. 

The mission says one surviving crew member has received treatment from the Médecins Sans Frontieres team in Bentiu.

The mission says the helicopter, which was on a routine cargo flight from Wau in Western Bahr El Ghazal State to Bentiu, lost contact with UNMISS at 2:28 PM yesterday afternoon.

“I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wish a full and speedy recovery to the injured crew member,” said Toby Lanzer, officer-in-charge of UNMISS.

He says the Mission is launching an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

Unity State Minister of Information, Peter Makoth, told Eye Radio that the helicopter was shot down by the S-P-L-A in Opposition forces.

Peter Makoth said the UN helicopter was shot down in Rubkona, some 10 kilometers south of Unity State capital, Bentiu.

He told Eye Radio’s Sundown Program that the helicopter was carrying UN staff, and all the passengers on board were killed, only  the pilot survived,  and he is undergoing treatment with serious injuries.

However, the military spokesperson of the SPLA in Opposition, Brigadier-General, Lul Koang Rui, said they are not admitting any responsibility for the crash.

He said they are still gathering information and will come out with their position statement.