Crashed Chinese helicopter salvaged out of sea water

The ship-based helicopter was rented by the Xuelong, or "Snow Dragon," which was moored at a Shanghai dock at the time of the accident. The helicopter crashed just a minute after taking off from the vessel, according to the China Marine Search and Rescue Center.

A ship and three boats attend a rescue mission for a crashed  helicopter from China's Antarctic exploration ship "Xuelong"  near the estuary of the Yangtze River in east China, on April  12, 2009.(Xinhua/Chen Fei)

"Thick fog shrouded the sky when the crash happened," said a spokesman with the Shanghai frontier defense inspection authorities.

But the exact cause of the crash is yet to be determined. The Harbin Aircraft Industry Group Co. and its subsidiary, China Flying Dragon Special Aviation Company, owner of the plane, have sent staff to assist the investigation.