China mobilized helicopters for the first time in a highway medical rescue drill in northeast China' s Liaoning Province, the provincial bureau of transport said Thursday.

The rescue drill took place at 10:00 AM on the Shenyang-Dalian highway where a bridge collapse and traffic pile-up purportedly injuring dozens was simulated.

Two helicopters, an S-76 from China' s Ministry of Transport and an Mi-17 from Shenyang Military Command, were dispatched to rescue those acting as wounded in the blocked section inaccessible to rescue vehicles.

The rescue workers were airlifted to the crash site and successfully extricated two "trapped" bus passengers within three minutes before transporting them to nearby hospitals.

More than 300 people participated in the drill organized by China' s Ministry of Transport and the provincial government of Liaoning.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2010)