plant and based on the Mi-8MTV-3. Mi-171Sh Storm for special forces Operators – 19 Former operators (Mi-8) Accidents and notable incidents On 16 September 2000, a Mi-17 of the Sri Lankan Airforce crashed near Aranayake in Kegalle District, Sri Lanka with one of the then government ministers on board. Besides the minister, there were 14 others on board – nine party officials, three bodyguards and two crew members. The authorities initially claimed that engine failure had caused the crash. The government immediately ordered an inquiry into the crash and in January 2001 President Kumaratunga appointed a Presidential Commission to inquire into the crash. However, neither found any conclusive evidence for the crash's cause. On 4 December 2003, a Polish Air Force Mi-8 crashed with Prime Minister Leszek Miller on board; all survived. On 30 July 2005, a Mi-17 presidential helicopter crashed in mountain ranges in South Sudan due to poor visibility claiming the life of then President of South Sudan John Garang, six of his colleagues and seven Ugandan crew members. He was returning from a private visit in Rwakitura meeting President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. On 12 January 2008, a Mi-17 of the Macedonian Armed Forces crashed, killing all three crew members and eight passengers. On 3 March 2008, an Iraqi Air Force Mi-17 (Mi-8AMT) crashed near Baiji while ferrying troops from Tal Afar to the capital Baghdad. All eight people on board perished in the accident. On 31 May 2008, a People's Liberation Army Mi-171 transport crashed in southwest Sichuan province, killing 5 crew and 13 passengers on board. It was on a rescue mission during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. On 14 January 2009, an Afghan Air Force Mi-17 crashed in Herat while en route to Farah province. All 13 on board were killed, including Maj. Gen. Fazl Ahmad Sayar, one of Afghanistan's four regional commanders. On 14 February 2010, a Yemeni Air Force Mi-17 crashed in Northern Yemen, hitting an Army vehicle. All eleven people on board were killed, along with three others on the ground. On 28 July 2010, an Iraqi Air Force Mi-17 (Mi-8M) crashed in a sandstorm about 110 km south of Baghdad, killing all 5 occupants. On 19 November 2010, an Indian Air Force Mi-17 crashed near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, India killing all 12 people on board. It had taken off from Tawang for Guwahati, and crashed about five minutes later at