16 feared dead in helicopter 'hard landing' in Tajikistan

Up to 16 people, including 13 climbers and 3 helicopter crew, were unaccounted for after a "hard landing" in the mountains of Tajikistan, the Central Asian country's emergency committee said today.

The accident took place yesterday at 1130 GMT, the committee said.

Two helicopters have been sent on a rescue and recovery mission to the crash site, it added.