China's expedition helicopter "Snow Eagle", registration number B-7810, crashed in Antarctica at 9:20 p.m. Thursday (local time) when returning to vessel "Snow Dragon" from the resupply Zhongshan Station.

The crash happened after the helicopter was out of control en route across the sea ice and failed to make a forced landing. Both pilots on board were rescued, one injured slightly.

The helicopter "Snow Eagle" was bought from Russia in Dec. 2008, and joined Chinese Antarctic scientific expedition team in 2009. The helicopter, owned by Polar Research Institute of China and managed by Citic General Aviation Co., Ltd., was performing task at that time, its third Antarctic mission.

The State Oceanic Administration has instructed suspension of all expedition work to carry out accident investigation and wreckages collection.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.