Report: Helicopter engine failed

A Preliminary Report on a helicopter's emergency landing in East Sepik earlier this month has found, that one of its engines failed miserably at the time of departure.

 Passengers on board the helicopter were senior government officers, lead by Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill.

 Chief Commissioner of P-N-G Accident and Investigations Commission, Nemo Yalo, told a news conference in Port Moresby yesterday, they will get to the bottom of this incident, as the helicopter carried the country's Prime Minister at the time of encountering serious engine failure.

 The twin engine helicopter was charted to transport a VIP contingent from Wewak to Drekikir and Youngaru to launch various development projects in the area.

 According to the report, after the departure, twelve to fifteen minutes into the flight on route to Drekikir with eleven passengers on board, including prime minister Peter Oneill, the pilot, a New Zealander, realized that one of its two engine encountered problem.

 The findings also shows that the pilot made a heavier touch down then normal resulting in breaking its landing skid.

The passengers were later picked up by another helicopter and continued the planned trip to Drekikir and Yangoru.