Peshawar, Pakistan ? A Red Cross helicopter that had been used for earthquake relief in Pakistan since October was missing Sunday with a crew of seven aboard, the aid agency said.

The Mi-8 helicopter, operated by Turkmenistan Airlines, lost contact with Pakistani air control just before entering Afghanistan on Saturday, the International Red Cross said.

The crew members are employees of Turkmenistan Airlines, and there were no Red Cross staff on board. The nationality of the missing was unclear.

The region in which the helicopter is believed to have disappeared is covered with rugged, desolate mountains, but was not having bad weather at the time, said James Reynolds, deputy head of the ICRC delegation in Pakistan.

The helicopter was returning to Turkmenistan after completing its aid work and had refueled in the northwestern city of Peshawar, the Red Cross said.

Ground and air searches for the craft on Sunday were fruitless, Reynolds said.