Moscow, Sep 22 (IANS): A Russian helicopter Friday landed in Georgia due to problems in the navigation system, authorities said.

According to the Russian emergency situations ministry, the helicopter lost its way while delivering a consignment of humanitarian aid to Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, reported Xinhua.

"The helicopter made an emergency landing on the territory of Georgia not far from the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinval, because its navigation equipment started malfunctioning," the ministry's spokesman told reporters here.

Shortly after the landing, the helicopter returned to South Ossetia as the pilots found the navigation mistake, the ministry said.

The consignment of aid was finally delivered to the destination and handed over to the South Ossetian side as scheduled, it added.

Georgia voiced its strong protests against the incident Friday night.

Moscow and Tbilisi have been at odds over the status of Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Moscow recognized their independence in August 2008 following a brief armed conflict with Georgia.

In response, Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Russia.