Baku, Feb 12 (IANS/RIA Novosti): All three crew members of a Mi-17 Hip helicopter were killed when it crashed into the Caspian Sea, the Azerbaijan defence ministry said.
The body of one crew member was recovered, the ministry said.
The Mi-17, which belonged to the Azerbaijani Air Force and was used for medical evacuation, disappeared from the radar screens Monday morning.
The helicopter crashed into the sea about 300 metres from the coastline.
According to eyewitness accounts, the crash was accompanied by an explosion.
The Mi-17, which can be used both for civilian and military purposes, can carry up to 24 passengers, or up to 12 beds in its medevac configuration.