‘Aviator +’ addresses helicopter crash in Kazbegi

By Inga Kakulia

Monday, June 10

Molodinashvili stressed the importance of respecting the families of victims and asked the public not to spread false information regarding the crash.

One of the last pictures taken of the helicopter that crashed on June 6. Photo: FB / Billy Bilikhodze

On June 8, the Deputy CEO of the Aviator +, the company that managed the helicopter, Giorgi Molodinashvili, hosted a press conference addressing the crash that caused the deaths of all three people on board. The accident happened in Kazbegi, Mtskheta-Mtianeti region on June 6.

Mr. Molodinashvili began the press conference by voicing his condolences to the families of the victims of the crash and called for an end to disinformation and asked the public to wait for the first results of the ongoing inquiry on the case of the helicopter crash.

Molodinashvili denied the information that the helicopter was not fully equipped during the fatal flight. The deputy CEO of “Aviator +” stressed that the aircraft had all the necessary equipment and had undergone the mandatory technical check on may 22th of this year. He presented a document proving the technical check and said that a licensed company conducted the tech check.

During the press conference, Molodinashvili also mentioned that the information about The Rooms Hotel employee being on the helicopter only to balance the weight to be completely untrue. Molodinashvili said that everyone on the helicopter was there on their own will and that Rooms Hotel employees, as well as the management of the company, use this helicopter non commercially regularly.

Molodinashvili talked about the pilot of the helicopter, Iliko Baidashvili and highlighted his impeccable qualifications and his experience as a pilot, reaching just about 20 years. According to him, Baidashvili had undergone training in the United States and Canada.

According to Molodinashvili, international experts will join the investigation to uncover what caused this tragedy. He expressed the readiness of “Aviator +” to work with the investigation.

Molodinashvili called this case an international one since the helicopter was produced in the United States and had a French-produced engine. Appropriate representatives will also be involved in the investigation.

At the end of the conference, the deputy CEO once again called for the public to wait for the results of the investigation and to refrain from spreading assumptions about the cause of the accident.