Aviation - China Denies It Has Seen Downed U.S. Helicopter

Bejing, August 18, 2011: Chinese defense officials are denying reports that Pakistan has given them access to the remains of an advanced helicopter used in the raid which resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden. The helo went down during the raid, and was largely destroyed by the SEAL team before the mission was completed.

The Chinese Defense Ministry says on its website that “This report is totally unfounded and extremely absurd,” according to the New York Times. It was widely reported earlier this week that Pakistani officials had made the remains of the aircraft, thought to be a highly-modified Black Hawk with advanced stealth characteristics, available to China for inspection.

The U.S. government had asked Pakistan to keep what was left of the helo under wraps. The BBC reports that the Pakistani Inter-Service Intelligence Directorate also denied the reports. All that remained of the helicopter was a section of the tail boom and rotor.