A Russian-Belarusian crew of a Mi-26 helicopter has been at the Tunisian airport for the third day in a row without explanation. The pilots' passports were confiscated and they are not allowed to leave the arrival area, the Mash Telegram channel reported.
According to the source, seven pilots from Russia and two from Belarus were ferrying a cargo plane of a Kyrgyz company from Libya to Algeria after repairs.
They were flying through Tunisia, where they planned to spend the night in a hotel. But they were detained, their passports were confiscated and they have been held in the arrival area for three days. The reasons were not explained, the Russian consulate became involved.
Pilot Sergei Suslov said that the crew members sat on metal benches for a day and slept sitting down. After the publicity, they were given a small room with a couple of sofas and a bathroom.
About Mi-26
The Mi-26 is the largest production helicopter in the world with a carrying capacity of up to 20 tons. The helicopter is equipped with an eight-bladed rotor made of fiberglass with a steel spar with electrothermal protection against icing. Among military pilots, the Mi-26 is often called "Cow" for its huge size and distinctive appearance.