File photo of China's expedition helicopter Snow Eagle pictured on Dec 3, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's expedition helicopter Snow Eagle crashed while attempting to make an emergency landing in the South Pole on Thursday evening, injuring one pilot, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday.

The accident happened at 9:20 pm (local time) when the helicopter was returning to China's expedition ship Xuelong after transporting supplies to the Zhongshan research station in the Antarctic. Two pilots were rescued, one suffered minor injuries.

The Snow Eagle helicopter was bought from Russia in December 2008 and allocated to China's scientific expedition team in 2009. It was the helicopter's third expedition tour.

China's expedition work has been suspended and the cause of the accident is under investigation.