A Venezuelan Mil Mi-17V-5 (serial GN10139) transport helicopter belonging to the Bolivarian National Guard crashed on 27 August in the state of Apure, according to local press reports. Three officers and seven national guardsmen were killed in the crash. The helicopter had taken off from Buena Vista in Meta state and its final destination was in Carabobo. This is the first mention of a National Guard Mi-17V-5. Between four and six of the platforms were reported to have been delivered to the service in early 2010, although it is unclear if these included the helicopters delivered during the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to Caracas in April. The National Guard has also reportedly inducted a Bell 222 as a staff transport aircraft during 2010 that was seized from organised crime sources.
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