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Foreign skiers escape Kashmir copter crash

          Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): Three foreign skiers have had a narrow escape after their copter crashed. They had gone missing on Friday after their helicopter crashed, but found their way back after skiing across the mountains in Kashmir next day. The French skiers skied across the snow-enveloped mountains of the Sonmarg area, reached the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp at Dachigam in the wee hours. "In the morning, we got news that they are back. Thank god they all are ok," said Farooq Shah, Director of Tourism. Authorities brought the three skiers to Srinagar. An army helicopter has been pressed into service to rescue the Romanian pilot, who is still stranded at the crash site. "It was a technical problem, when we land, we were into the helicopter. We have been lucky because everybody is in a good shape. The pilot is also in a very good shape. But we need to bring him back also by helicopter," said Sylvian Sudan, Team leader of the skiing expedition.
-March 17,  2007