No survivors found in the Kamchatka helicopter
Rescuers in the Russian far-east found no survivors in the debris of a helicopter that went missing with 22 passengers, mostly tourists.
The plane disappeared on Saturday following its departure from a base close to the Vachkazhets volcano in the Kamchatka peninsula. Authorities reported on Sunday that a total of 17 corpses had been discovered up to now.
The region, a well-liked spot for tourists, is renowned for its live volcanoes. It is not clear what caused the crash.
Also read: Russian Mi-8T helicopter with 22 on board goes missing in far east
Incidents like these occur quite often in far-east
These types of incidents happen quite often in the sparsely populated and harsh weather conditions of Russia’s far-east. Three years ago, a total of eight individuals lost their lives in a tragic accident when a sightseeing helicopter plunged into a body of water in Kamchatka.
In a video posted on Telegram, Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov announced that rescuers had found the wreckage of the helicopter on Sunday in a mountainous region at an altitude of 900 meters.
Aircraft found close to location where it went off the radar
Video footage from Russia’s emergency situations ministry depicted helicopter remnants scattered on a steep incline near the summit of a dense hill. The ministry reported that the aircraft was discovered near the area where it disappeared from the radar.
A government representative, Ivan Lemikhov, stated that 17 bodies have been discovered so far. “The rescuers have set up camp and the search has halted until daybreak,” he added.
Soviet-designed military helicopter Mi-8 extensively used for transport in Russia
The Mi-8, a military helicopter designed in the Soviet Union, is extensively utilized for transportation in Russia.
The helicopter that crashed was being used by a Kamchatka company called Vityaz-aero, which arranges flights for tourists, as stated by the emergencies ministry.
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Recent plane-related incidents in Russia’s far eastern region
In August 2021, a Mi-8 helicopter carrying 16 individuals, including 13 tourists, went down in a lake in Kamchatka as a result of limited visibility, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals.
In the same year’s July, a plane with 22 passengers and six crew members on board crashed while landing on the peninsula, resulting in all individuals losing their lives.
